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          During the hot afternoon of Thursday, 6 June 1968, SFC Frank Alloysius "Pappy" Condon, age 47, of Augusta, Georgia, and SP/4 Lewis Randolph Lovell, Jr., age 21, of Martinsville, Virginia, both of C Company, were conducting a motorized jeep patrol outside the southern border of Long Binh Post and the Battalion Tactical Area Of Responsibility on Highway 317.

         SP/4 Lovell the driver, proceeded east along Highway 317 to the vicinity of Long Binh Post Gate-11, and turned right onto Highway QL15 (south) where he left the paved roadway and traveled west out along a dirt trail in an area referred to as "The Finger of Land ." located in the Battalion Tactical Area of Responsibility.

        The trail, approximately 400 yards long, ran east and west parallel to the southern perimeter of the post and is approximately 300 yards south of the perimeter. The area was unpopulated and classified as a"free fire zone."

        Approximately half way down the trail the jeep ran over a large pressure detonated Viet Cong land mine believed to have been made from a 105 howitzer round.

        Both men died instantly from the powerful explosion.  Their remains and those of the jeep were recovered by a C Company Reaction Force rushed to the area.

     The Vietnam Wall Memorial, Washington, DC, Panel 59W - Row 007

Courtesy of SP/4 Charles "David" Spruell, C Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, March 1971-January 1972.