Mario Clayton Kitts (1946 - 1966)

Born 26 Aug 1946 in Bastian, Bland County, Virginia, USA

Died 5 Mar 1966 at age 19 in Quảng Ngãi, Vietnam

Biography

Mario Kitts was awarded the Purple Heart.

Mario Kitts is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Marine Corps
CPL Infantry, KIA in Vietnam

Cpl. Mario Kitts was killed in action during the Vietnam War.

Cpl Mario Kitts served in the United States Marine Corps in the Vietnam War
Service started:
Unit(s): =B Co.,1st Bn, 7th Marine Regiment; 1st Marine Division, III MAF
Service ended:

Mario was born in 1946. He passed away in 1966. Mario was the son of Lucille M. Curry of Monticello IN and Clayton H. Kitts; and he enlisted in the US Marine Corps on December 27 1963 in Indianapolis IN. In Vietnam he was serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 3d MARDIV (Rein) FMF.

On March 5 Company B, attached to the 4th Marines for operation UTAH, was assigned to guard a downed helicopter near the Chau Ngai village complex in Song Ha District. The NVA launched a vicious attack on the Marines throughout the night, using automatic weapons, rocket propelled grenades and 60mm mortars. The Marines held their ground until help arrived in the morning with the enemy withdrawn from the battlefield the men gathered their casualties and completed evacuations of the wounded and the dead. One of the casualties was Cpl Kitts who was killed in action from a hostile gunshot wound.

Five Marines from Company B, were killed on Operation Utah, the 2d Battalion, 7th Marine casualties were forty-four men killed in action or died of wounds.

Sources

Semper Fi Brother! Sgt R.C. Floyd, (Floyd-1923)

• www.VIRTUALWALLL.org
• 1st Battalion 7th Marines Association and the1/7 Marines Vietnam Memorial, Marine Corps Museum, Quantico, Virginia, USA
• National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C, USA
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19315786/mario-clayton-kitts: accessed 17 December 2023), memorial page for CPL Mario Clayton Kitts (26 Aug 1946–5 Mar 1966), Find a Grave Memorial ID 19315786, citing Lucasville Cemetery, Lucasville, Scioto County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by Victor Vilionis (contributor 47207612).