GARDINER — About 90 uniformed service members, veterans and civilians paid their respects to a Medal of Honor recipient and his fallen comrades during a Veterans Day program at Gardiner Cemetery.
The annual event is hosted by the Navy Seabees, a unit tasked with construction projects in combat and peacetime operations across the globe.
“It is important that we remember our heritage and recognize veterans, especially Marvin Shields, on this day,” Dan Van Natta, a member of Navy Seabee Veterans of America in Silverdale, said during the ceremony.
Shields, a construction mechanic third class serving with Seabee Team 1104, was killed June 10, 1965, while in combat in Dong Xoai, Vietnam.
He was 25.
Shields, who had lived in Gardiner, is interred at Gardiner Cemetery.
Shields “paid the ultimate sacrifice in battle to save his fellow shipmates,” Van Natta said.
Shields “is the only Seabee Medal of Honor recipient,” which is “a rather small community . . . but a rather important one with a very storied history,” Van Natta said.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were Joan Shields-Bennett, Shield’s widow, who lives in Gardiner, and Capt. Mark T. Geronime, commanding officer of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest.
“Today, like many other American patriots around the world, we converge to pay tribute to the many veterans, both past and present, who have served our nation,” Van Natta said.
“It is always an honor for us to participate in our Seabee traditions and history.”
U.S. naval history “began over two centuries ago and is filled with numerous examples of dedication, sacrifice and perseverance in the face of adversity,” he said.
“I am proud to stand here today . . . and honor one such patriot, a man who lived and died setting the example of our great Navy core values: honor, courage and commitment.”
Peter Ott, a chaplain at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, said during the ceremony that as Americans go about their busy lives, it is important to remember men such as Shields.
Ott also called upon the attendees to continue to serve their country in whatever capacity they are able.
“May we continue . . . to honor the memory of all those who have served and the memory of Petty Officer Shields with our own service, whether we are veterans, family members, actively serving [or] participants from the community,” he said.
“May we seek out ways to continue to serve so that 240 years from now, our country might remain strong and that the stories of heroes like Petty Officer Shields will continue to inspire a new generation to serve with honor, courage and commitment.”
During combat June 9-10, 1965, Seabee Team 1104 and the Army’s 5th Special Forces Detachment A-342 were engaged in a fierce battle with two Viet Cong regiments estimated to be 1,500 strong, according to Shields’ Medal of Honor citation.
Although wounded when the compound came under intense machine gun, heavy weapons and small-arms fire, Shields continued to resupply his fellow Americans with needed ammunition and to fire upon enemy forces for about three hours.
The Viet Cong launched a massive attack at close range with flame throwers, hand grenades and small-arms fire.
Wounded a second time during this attack, Shields helped carry a more critically wounded man to safety and then resumed firing at the enemy for four more hours.
Shields then joined other volunteers to help knock out an enemy machine gun emplacement that was endangering the lives of all personnel in the compound.
Proceeding toward their objective with a 3.5-inch rocket launcher, the volunteers succeeded in destroying the enemy machine gun emplacement, “thus undoubtedly saving the lives of many of their fellow servicemen in the compound,” according to Shields’ Medal of Honor citation.
Shields was mortally wounded by hostile fire while returning to his defensive position.
He was one of two Seabees killed during the battle, along with three Green Berets.
Because of his “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity” while under fire, Shields was posthumously awarded with the nation’s highest military honor, according to his Medal of Honor citation.
________
Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
