3rd Battalion 26th Marines (Vietnam)

Andy DeBona

 Andy DeBona was born in Johnston, Pennsylvania on October 3^rd 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 3^rd Battalion 1^st Marines, the 3^rd Battalion 2^nd Marines, the 7^th Marines, and with the 3^rd Battalion 26^th 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 7^th 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 1^st Recruit Training Battalion, MCRD San Diego.

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