MICHAEL THURSTON GIBSON

Panel : 16W Line: 130

Army

Staff Sergeant / Specialist Six

Pay grade E5 Posthumous Promotion

Killed in action November 28, 1969 by ground casualty gun, small arms fire hostile, died in Long An South Vietnam. The body was recovered. Home of record was BONDTOWN, VA. Born October 15, 1948 age at death 21. A Caucasian Male, Single. Religious affiliation Baptist.

CAACF Record Number : 230689109

Comments by Alan H. Gibson:

 I am Michael's cousin but consider Michael my brother since we were raised by our grandparents in Bondtown, Va and were less than a month apart in age. I had already served a tour in Nam (1967) with 2nd BN 1st Marines and had been honorably discharged when Michael was drafted. If there is anyone out there who would like to converse with me about Michael I would like to do so. It has taken me a long time to get to the point where I could do so.

Comments by Dan Kelley:

Tribute to Michael Gibson: Gibson was not in my platoon (C co, 3rd Plt) but he spent a lot of time in our platoon area because we had a basketball hoop on a flat area between the rice paddies. He was there often 'cajoling' me with that strong southern accent, "shoot some hoops'. He was a happy, positive guy.
The day of his death was my worst in country. We were in a blocking position and 1st Plt was 'pinned down'-Michael's platoon. When we reached them, they were all lying on the ground and had 3 or 4 men that were confirmed dead in front of them. We pulled back out of that wood line and brought arty in and leveled the area.
When we went back in we received fire again; pulling 3 or 4 POWs out of bunkers and a crew served machine gun out of a near by wood line. As we recovered the bodies, the first I found was Gibson.
I think of these men often and they are the real hero's in my life. 

Respectfully, Dan Kelley

Comments by Wayne Wall

I'm almost 100% sure what you have here is the day that Mike Gibson was KIA.  I believe that on Page 3/Item 22/time 1305/line 6/ Notes:  1410hr, point man is killed and we couldn't get to him immediately.  I believe, we had two wounded trying to recover Mike, but heavy fire from bunkers delayed retrieving his body.  We ended up getting the body out and backed off and let the Art'y and Fast movers level the banana grove.  Can't say this brings back good memories, but it does bring back many of the thoughts that have been stored away.  I got to know Mike Gibson very well while we were together and visited his family in Castlewood, Virginia after returning.  His mother and mine still exchange letters and cards during holidays.  I visited Mike's gravesite in 1970, but haven't had the opportunity to go back since..or maybe the courage, who knows.

If this is the true copy, I will send this along to Mike's mother.  I don't think I have ever told her of the website.  Maybe seeing the site may be of some closure to a very sad story.  Mike was an amazing personality and was a well known small town athlete and very devout religious man. I feel privileged to have know him.

Wayne Wall (Sgt)
C/6-31, 1st Platoon
LTC, USAR, (Ret.)
Tulsa, Okla