From Mick

Good evening Colonel,

From Mick:

Not surprised to see (back in the day "Lieutenant") John Kopka making a big difference for the better in the Jacksonville and Onslow County  Communities.

Also not surprised to see that Assistant Secretary of State Kevin Moley (retired) had also been in the news recently.  Secretary of State Pompeo had recently fired Department of State Inspector General Linick.  It's been reported that the I.G. had weaponized his office to attack State Department Employees who were doing their jobs and upsetting the "this is the way we always did things" mentality.  Definitely, NOT the job of the I.G.  Kevin, who was on the I.G.'s radar, was a leader of change and efficiency and "getting the people's business" done to protect the global interests of the USA 

Lt. Kopka was awarded the Silver Star in October 1966 while serving with 2/3.  Kevin was an F.O. from B-1-12 and assigned to E-2-3 during the "Hill Fights-The First Battle for Khe Sanh".  Kevin was subsequently awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V".  Kevin was also a stone's throw from Lt. Colonel Ohanesian and Sgt. Major Hayes when both Marines were killed in an NVA attack on 2/3's Command Group on 28 February 1967.  2/3, like other USMC maneuver battalions in 1966-67,  frequently found itself in extremely hostile territory, mostly in "I Corps".  Thankfully, the Marines that were part of those  Infantry Battalions in RVN were exceptional in repeatedly overcoming all enemy resistance. 

These two Marines, John and Kevin, valiantly did our Nation's bidding in the Vietnam War.  And returned home to continue serving  the U.S.A., their fellow citizens and their communities.  It's unfortunate that for over 50 years Hollywood and the Main Stream Media have not spotlighted men like John Kopka and Kevin Moley because the media's narrative has always been to paint Vietnam Veterans as "eccentrics".  That's just not true, as shown by the overwhelming number of Veterans who've returned from the War in Vietnam to make communities all across America better places to live.  God Bless the U.S.A.  Semper Fidelis.  Mick