John Leon Loweranitis

Vietnam War Marine Corps veteran
CPL John L. Loweranitis
enlistment date: 28 March 1963
Hostile, died, Gun or small arms fire, Ground casualty
3RD Marine Division, 9TH Marines Regiment, 3RD Battalion, I Company
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall
Panel 17E - Line 73

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal John Leon Loweranitis (MCSN: 2052170), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as Company Messenger of Company I, Third Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in the Republic of Vietnam on 30 March 1967. The company was engaged in establishing platoon night ambush sites against communist insurgent forces in the Quang Tri Province when the company command group and a small security element were attacked by a North Vietnamese reinforced company utilizing heavy automatic weapons and mortar fire. At the initiation of the action Corporal Loweranitis moved through intense fire to the 60-mm. mortar position, reorganized the crew and delivered effective fire on the machine gun positions that were raking the Marine positions. When the mortar ammunition was expended he again exposed himself to small-arms fire and grenades as he moved from position to position evacuating wounded to the reverse slope of the hill. When the North Vietnamese Army attempted to overrun the Marine positions, he moved to the most threatened point and personally accounted for five enemy kills. Although wounded by small-arms fire and grenade fragments on two separate occasions, he refused to leave his position and resolutely covered the withdrawal of the command group to a more tenable position until he fell, mortally wounded. His heroic action, with complete disregard for his own life, allowed the Marines to gain the new position and account for numerous enemy casualties. By his outstanding courage, exceptional fortitude and valiant fighting spirit, Corporal Loweranitis served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

General Orders: Authority: Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals
Action Date: 30-Mar-67
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Corporal
Company: Company I
Battalion: 3d Battalion
Regiment: 9th Marines
Division: 3d Marine Division (Rein.) FMF

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal John Leon Loweranitis (MCSN: 2052170), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company I, Third Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on September 3, 1966. Company I, reinforced with two ontos (tracked vehicles bearing six mounted recoilless rifles), was conducting a search and destroy mission against the Viet Cong guerilla forces, at an estimated strength of two companies, in the vicinity of An Hoa. After the sixty-millimeter mortar team of which Corporal Loweranitis was an ammunition man had expended all of its ammunition, he boarded an ontos that was under heavy enemy fire with its commander and machine gun out of action. He took charge and personally backed the vehicle out of the only landing zone that could be used for a medical evacuation helicopter. He then crossed open ground, boarded the remaining vehicle, taking over as its commander and machine gunner. He directed the vehicle forward of the position where the first vehicle was hit and delivered suppressive fire into the enemy-held wood line that was holding up his platoon and preventing evacuation of five casualties. Through his heroic actions, the medical evacuation was completed and the platoon was able to advance and inflict many enemy casualties. He stayed on as ontos commander and gunner for the remaining three hours of the fire fight, maneuvering the ontos and delivering effective fire into the Viet Cong positions and anchoring the platoon's exposed left flank throughout the action. Corporal Loweranitis' initiative and courageous actions reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Action Date: 3-Sep-66
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Corporal
Company: Company I
Battalion: 3d Battalion
Regiment: 9th Marines
Division: 3d Marine Division (Rein.), FMF
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION
to the THIRD MARINE DIVISION (REINFORCED)
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For extraordinary heroism and outstanding performance of duty in action against the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong forces in the Republic of Vietnam from 8 March 1965 to 15 September 1967. Throughout this period, the Third Marine Division (Reinforced), operating in the five northernmost provinces of the Republic of Vietnam, successfully executed its three-fold mission of occupying and defending key terrain, seeking out and destroying the enemy, and conducting an intensive pacification program. Operating in an area bordered by over 200 miles of South Chain Sea coastline, the mountainous Laotian border and the demilitarized Zone, the Third Marine Division (Reinforced) successfully executed eighty major combat operations, carrying the battle to the enemy, destroying many of his forces, and capturing thousands of tons of weapons and materiel. In addition to these major operations, more than 125,000 offensive counter guerrilla actions, ranging from squad patrols and ambushes to company-sized search and destroy operations, were conducted in both the coastal rice lands and the mountainous jungle inland. These bitterly contested actions routed the enemy from his well-entrenched positions, denied him access to his source of food, restricted his freedom of movement, and removed his influence from the heavily populated areas. In numerous operations, the Third Marine Division (Reinforced) demonstrated the great efficacy of combined operations with units of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. In July 1966, the Third Marine Division (Reinforced) moved to the north to counter major elements of the North Vietnamese Army moving across the Demilitarized Zone. Imbued with an unrelenting combat spirit and initiative and undeterred by heavy hostile artillery and mortar fire, extremely difficult terrain, incessant heat and monsoon rains, the Third Marine Division (Reinforced), employing courageous ground, heliborne and amphibious assaults, complemented by intense and accurate air, artillery and naval gunfire support, inflicted great losses on the enemy and denied him the political and military victory he sought to achieve at any cost. The outstanding courage, resourcefulness and aggressive fighting spirit of the officers and men of the Third Marine Division (Reinforced) in battle after battle against a well equipped and well-trained enemy, often numerically superior in strength, and the great humanitarianism constantly shown to the peoples of the Republic of Vietnam, reflected great credit upon the Marine Corps and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United Stated Naval Service.