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2nd Lt. Hunt was awarded the SILVER STAR for his bravery in the Battle of LZ Russell, Feb. 25, 1969. Unfortunately, his Purple Heart award was lost in the war-time shuffle. In an attempt to get this award for Lt. Hunt’s dying mother, his cousin, Eric Hunt, sent the following to the LZ Russell Association:
10/18/00
Hello,
My name is Eric Hunt. Formerly Staff Sergeant, US Army 86-93 509th Airborne Pathfinder. My cousin 2nd LT William Howard Hunt from Merritt Island FL was killed on 25 February 1969 at FSB Russell, Quang Tri Province, Vietnam. He was with E Co 2nd Bn 4th Marines. He received the Silver Star for his actions on that day.
He never received a Purple Heart. I was amazed to find your web site because I have been trying to find out about the events surrounding his death for many years. His mother Dorothy Hunt is still alive but in a very frail and ill condition. Her last wish is to receive William's Purple Heart before she dies. I visited her just last week in Trenton FL.
Is there any way you could assist me in this most important and pressing effort to grant a dying mother her last wish. He is a hero to me and my family and so are the many others who sacrificed so much that night.
Thanks in advance.
10/18/00
The LZ Russell Association immediately formed “The Lt. Hunt Committee”, with several of our members working full-time to see to it that 2nd Lt. Hunt’s Mother will hold her son’s Purple Heart before she passes on.
05/15/00
Dock Woy sent the following:
On Sunday, February 25, 2001 a Purple Heart Medal was presented to Mrs. Dorothy Hunt, mother of the late Second Lieutenant William H. Hunt.
Exactly 32 years after his death on LZ Russell, an American firebase in Vietnam, the Purple Heart Medal was presented posthumously to his mother, Dorothy Hunt, in front of the War Memorial in Trenton, Florida. Staff Sgt. Richard Lemily USMC from the local recruiting station in Gainesville, Florida, along with Capt. Ed Gar USMC (Ret) presented the award.
Second Lieutenant William H. Hunt was fatally wounded on February 25, 1969 , during an attack on Firebase Russell while serving with the Second Battalion, Fourth Marines Echo Company, in Vietnam.
Lt. Hunt’s cousin, Eric Hunt had posted an inquiry on the LZ Russell website asking if anyone who was on Russell could remember his cousin. Eric Hunt had stated that he would like his Aunt Dorothy to receive the Purple Heart, which had not been presented to her son William. A Navy Corpsman who had been at Lt. Hunt’s side on LZ Russell, Richard Woy, read the inquiry and responded to Eric Hunt’s request. Ironically, Dorothy Hunt lived in Trenton, Florida, where ex-Navy Corpsman Woy worked for the past seven years; neither knowing of her existence nor the oversight of not receiving the Purple Heart.
After Woy spoke and visited with Mrs. Hunt, he began to inquire, via the internet, how to obtain a Purple Heart Medal. Gunny P.E. Brandon was one of the many who responded to the request. He gave reference to General Bill Weise and Colonel K.H. Winters (U.S. Marine Corps Deputy Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.) After they were contacted in late December 2000, the process was started. Colonel Winters contacted the Head of Military Awards branch at Headquarters. They verified Lt. Hunt’s entitlement to the Purple Heart and processed the request. Ms. D. McKinnon, Head, Service Awards Section sent the award which arrived on February 17th.
Last minute arrangements to present the award on February 25th were coordinated with the help of Bill Brideson, Gilchrist County Veteran Service Director. The ceremony conducted with the support of the American Legion Post 91 of Trenton and the United States Marine Corps Auxiliary. Also in attendance was John Hembrough (H&S Co. 2/4) from Illinois who had been wounded on Firebase Russell that morning. Coincidentally, he had been vacationing in Florida at the time of the ceremony. The Gainesville TV-20 News team gave coverage as well as the local newspaper.
The Hunt family was presented the award in a ceremony by Capt. Ed Garr USMC (Ret) and Staff Sgt. Lemily USMC (Gainesville Recruiter) with support from local veterans and friends.
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As an addendum, Mrs. Hunt (Bill’s mother) wanted to express her thanks to everyone for their efforts to help her receive this award for her son and add some closure. Another job well done, Marines!
Semper Fi
Doc Woy