CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. --
As Hispanic-American Heritage month draws to a close, we take the time to recognize retired Col. Jay R. Vargas in a fictional account between a veteran Marine and a reporter, using historical information to retell his story of leadership and courage in the face of fire
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“Yeah, I remember him,” the grizzled, old Marine reminisced as he gazed into a dark corner of the dimly lit bar. “Capt. Jay Vargas. Company Commander, Golf 2/4.”
The reporter looked at the pins on the old Marine’s vest for a moment. One pin in particular, engraved with a golden seahorse and the words ‘Magnificent Bastards’, caught his eye.
Smoke from a cigarette in the ashtray floated slowly into the air as the bartender poured another drink. Jimi Hendrix’s 1968 rendition of ‘All along the Watchtower’ played from the jukebox behind them.
“He was there in ‘Nam. Da Doi village,” he continued as he took a sip from his glass. “Led the charge across 700 yards of open ground himself and destroyed three enemy bunkers. Charlie threw everything at us; grenades, mortars, machineguns.”
The reporter wrote furiously on the notepad as the old Marine swished his drink from side to side.
“We thought we’d finally secured the village when Charlie hit us from the rice paddies on all sides. We gave as good as we got,” the old Marine took another swig. “The Captain saved the life of one Marine whose arm had been blown off. Even found the arm for him.”
The old Marine stared into his drink. He clutched his left shoulder with his right hand, touching the folded sleeve of his shirt, held in place by a safety pin where his arm should have been.
“I watched him drag the battalion commander to safety after he took three rounds in the back,” he said. “By then, the Captain was already wounded by shrapnel and a gunshot wound too.”
“What did he do after that?” asked the reporter. “Did they finally treat his wounds? Was he able to recover?”
“He got himself patched up and then went back to the fight,” he answered. “He never stopped.”
“That’s pretty impressive,” said the reporter.
He nodded.
“You know, I read somewhere that being a leader means it’s your job to support those under your command,” He continued. “If supporting your Marines and guiding them through the worst situations is the true definition of a leader then Captain Vargas was one of the best.”
The old Marine pulled a worn-out piece of paper from his wallet, set it on the wooden table and pushed it across to the reporter.
“President Nixon awarded him the medal of honor,” he said. “That’s his citation. I don’t know where he is now, but he’s probably still helping out guys like me today. He never stops.”
The reporter took the piece of paper and copied the words into his notebook.
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MAJOR JAY R. VARGAS
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
For service as set forth in the following citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Commanding Officer, Company G, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade in action against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam from 30 April to 2 May 1968. On 1 May 1968, though suffering from wounds he had incurred while relocating his unit under heavy enemy fire the preceding day, Major (then Captain) Vargas combined Company G with two other companies and led his men in an attack on the fortified village of Dai Do. Exercising expert leadership, he maneuvered his Marines across 700 meters of open rice paddy while under intense enemy mortar, rocket and artillery fire and obtained a foothold in two hedgerows on the enemy perimeter, only to have elements of his company become pinned down by the intense enemy fire. Leading his reserve platoon to the aid of his beleaguered men, Major Vargas inspired his men to renew their relentless advance, while destroying a number of enemy bunkers. Again wounded by grenade fragments, he refused aid as he moved about the hazardous area reorganizing his unit into a strong defense perimeter at the edge of the village. Shortly after the objective was secured, the enemy commenced a series of counterattacks and probes which lasted throughout the night but were unsuccessful as the gallant defenders of Company G stood firm in their hard-won enclave. Reinforced the following morning, the Marines launched a renewed assault through Dai Do on the village of Dinh To, to which the enemy retaliated with a massive counterattack resulting in hand-to-hand combat. Major Vargas remained in the open, encouraging and rendering assistance to his Marines when he was hit for the third time in the three-day battle. Observing his battalion commander sustain a serious wound, he disregarded his excruciating pain, crossed the fire-swept area and carried his commander to a covered position, then resumed supervising and encouraging his men simultaneously assisting in organizing the battalion's perimeter defense. His gallant actions uphold the highest traditions of the Marines Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Signed: RICHARD M. NIXON
Note: Col. Jay Vargas (retired) became the Regional Veterans Liaison for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)