DAILY INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
March 15, 1968

GENTLE HERO DIES FROM WAR WOUNDS

MIAMI, Fla. (AP) - Pvt. Jonathan Nathaniel Spicer, who hated war but became a battlefield hero while helping his beleaguered Marine buddies at Khe Sanh, has died in a Japanese hospital, his father said Thursday. He was 19. William Spicer said two Marines interrupted his World Affairs class at Shenandoah Junior High School and informed him of his son's death in a U.S. hospital in Japan. "They said he died Wednesday," Spicer told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

RECEIVES WIRE

Spicer said shortly after Wednesday midnight, the family received a telegram saying Jonathan had been transferred from Viet Nam to a hospital in Japan and was in poor condition. "Then this morning I had just started my class when the two Marines arrived," he said. "They accompanied me as we went to where my wife works and we told her together." Jonathan, one of four sons, last saw his family on Christmas leave. He was wounded by shrapnel last month while helping load wounded Leathernecks onto a medical evacuation helicopter under enemy fire.

CLINICALLY DEAD

Declared clinically dead, Spicer was rushed to a field hospital and later transferred to Japan. Doctors performed open heart surgery at the battlefield aid station, in an underground bunker. Jonathan's Marine buddies, who derided his soft spoken manner and refusal to kill, viewed him as a hero after he was wounded. Because of his objection to killing he had been assigned to the medical corps and repeatedly faced enemy fire to reach wounded comrades. "What no one realized was that he was throughly unselfish and wouldn't hesitate to put himself in danger," said Lt. Edward Feldman, a medical officer from Forest Hills, N.Y. Jonathan's refusal to swear and his practice of reading the Bible daily made him the butt of his fellow Marines' jokes. Jonathan's father said he received his son's last letter two months ago, shortly after he arrived at Vietnam.

CONTAINS WILL

"It contained his last will and testament," said the elder Spicer. "He wanted $1000 of his $10,000 worth of Army insurance to go to the church - in keeping with our practice of tithing. Another $200 is to be used to buy his youngest brother a horse and he said the rest is to be used by the family," Spicer said. Jonathan had two other brothers, Bill, 21, and 17-year-old Timmy, a Marine recruit undergoing training in California.

Awarded posthumously for actions during the Vietnam War:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Jonathan Nathaniel Spicer (MCSN: 2390916), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with Company C, Third Medical Battalion, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in the Republic of Vietnam on 8 March 1968.

During an intense enemy rocket, mortar and artillery attack against the Khe Sanh Combat Base, Private Spicer unhesitatingly volunteered to serve as a stretcher bearer and assisted in embarking the numerous casualties aboard transport helicopters for evacuation. Completely disregarding his own safety, he continued to expedite the loading of the wounded aboard the aircraft, despite the increasing intensity of the attack, and was the last man to seek shelter in a bunker at the edge of the air strip. Observing a mortar round exploding near an evacuation helicopter loaded with casualties, he unhesitatingly left his position of relative safety to assist the wounded who were unable to move from their exposed position. Moments later, another round exploded within a few feet of Private Spicer, seriously wounding him, as he shielded a Marine from the blast with his own body. Unable to walk, he warned his comrades to remain in their protective positions while he attempted to crawl from the hazardous area to safety by himself.

His selfless actions undoubtedly prevented serious injury or possible death to his fellow Marines and were an inspiration to all who observed him. By his dauntless courage, unfaltering determination and selfless devotion to duty at great risk, Private Spicer upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

General Orders: Authority: Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals
Action Date: 8-Mar-68
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Private First Class
Company: Company C
Battalion: 3d Medical Battalion
Division: 3d Marine Division (Rein.) FMF