3rd Battalion 26th Marines (Vietnam)


waltwhitesides@verizon.net

  • Home
  • Site E-Mail Change
  • 2021 Battalion Reunion
  • TAPS
  • 3/26 Scholarship
  • Related links
  • Battalion History
  • Significant 3/26 History
  • 3/26 MemorialsClick to open the 3/26 Memorials menu
    • Ennis 3/26 Wall
    • Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial
    • Semper Fidelis Memorial Park 3/26 Memorial
    • Semper Fidelis Memorial Park 3/26 Plaque
  • 1966 Fatalities
  • 1967 Fatalities
  • 1968 Fatalities
  • 1969 Fatalities
  • 1970 Fatalities
  • Battalion Commanders
  • H&S Company Commanders
  • India Company Commanders
  • Kilo Company Commanders
  • Lima Company Commanders
  • Mike Company Commanders
  • Monthly Strength
  • 1966 Command Chronology
  • 1967 Command Chronology
  • 1968 Command Chronology
  • 1969 Command Chronology
  • 1970 Command Chronology
  • PFC William R. Caddy Medal of Honor Citation 3 March 1945
  • SSGT Karl R. Taylor, Sr. Medal of Honor Citation 8 December 1968
  • 3/26 Reunions
  • TAPS ArchivesClick to open the TAPS Archives menu
    • Taps Archives (Ray Addington)
    • TAPS Archives (Loyde Arender)
    • TAPS Archives (Robert Arrotta)
    • TAPS Archives (Joe Cote)
    • TAPS Archives (Duane Crawford)
    • TAPS Archives (Cunliffe-Owen)
    • TAPS Archives (William Dabney)
    • TAPS Archives (Andy DeBona)
    • TAPS Archives (Al Drotar)
    • TAPS Archives (Richard Dworsky)
    • TAPS Archives (Rick Eilert)
    • TAPS Archives (Ben Goddard)
    • TAPS Archives (Ronald Harriman)
    • TAPS Archives (Gary Heller)
    • TAPS Archives (Kenneth Hilliard)
    • TAPS Archives (Calvin Holley)
    • TAPS Archives (Ron Hoover)
    • TAPS Archives (PJ Johnson)
    • TAPS Archives (Richard Jones)
    • Taps Archives (Wayne Jones)
    • TAPS Archives (Paul Lowery)
    • TAPS Archives (Titus McClenton)
    • TAPS Archives (William "Doc" Miller)
    • TAPS Archives (Carl E. Mundy, Jr.)
    • TAPS Archives (Dick Peloquin)
    • TAPS Archives (Ralph S. Petersen)
    • TAPS Archives (Stephen Pryjmak)
    • TAPS Archives (Charles Reed)
    • TAPS Archives (James Rinkema)
    • TAPS Archives (Jimmy Rogers)
    • TAPS Archives (Lee Ruleman)
    • TAPS Archives (Richard "Fuzzy" Runyard)
    • TAPS Archives (Jack Santaniello)
    • TAPS Archives (Robert Schoondermark)
    • TAPS Archives (Thomas Silvear)
    • TAPS Archives (Chic Sorensen)
    • TAPS Archives (Keith LeRoy Teegardin)
    • TAPS Archives (William Thompson)
    • TAPS Archives (John "Doc" Tinker)
    • TAPS Archives (Robert Tipton)
    • TAPS Archives (James Wido)
    • TAPS Archives (Teruo "Skosh" Yorita)

TAPS Archives (Andy DeBona)

Andy DeBona

 

 Andy DeBona was born in Johnston, Pennsylvania on October 3rd 1936.  After graduation from high school, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in January 1955 and subsequently graduated as the Honor Man of his platoon and was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class.  Within two years he reached the rank of Sergeant.  Selected for Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in December, 1961.

As an infantry officer he served with the 3rd Battalion 1st Marines, the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines, the 7th Marines, and with the 3rd Battalion 26th Marines where he was most notably the Commanding Officer of Mike Company.  During his command of Mike Company, he was awarded the Navy Cross and a Purple Heart for heroism during an engagement with a North Vietnamese Army regiment south of the Demilitarized Zone on 10 September 1967.  LtCol DeBona also served an additional tour in Vietnam as a Senior Advisor to the 7th Vietnamese Marine Battalion.  Additionally he served as the Officer-in Charge of Recruiting Station, Cincinnati and as the Executive Officer and later the Commanding Officer of the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, MCRD San Diego.

LtCol DeBona retired from active duty on September 1st, 1980.  Since retirement he was active in various service organizations including hosting two reunions for the 3rd Battalion 26th Marines in his adopted hometown of Ennis, Montana.  Andy died on February 6th, 2018.  He is survived by his wife Christine, his stepdaughter Romaine, his son Andrew, Jr., and his grandson Andrew.





Copyright 2009 3rd Battalion 26th Marine Regiment. All rights reserved.

Web Hosting by Yahoo!


waltwhitesides@verizon.net