If you have any questions, additional biographical information, personal remembrances, or photographs you would like to contribute, please contact the History Project Manager via this Email Link.

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They Say, our deaths are not ours, they are yours, they will mean what you make of them. They say, we leave you our deaths, give them some meaning. Archibald MacLeish poet and WWI veteran.

          During the hot afternoon of Thursday, 6 June 1968, SFC Frank Alloysisu 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 along 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 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.

On 10 June 1968, at 0800 hours memorial services were held at the 89th MP Group Chapel for SFC Condon and SP/4 Lovell, C Company. The eulogy was given by the Battalion Commander, LTC Zane V. Kortum. Courtesy of SP/5, Ronald C. Henselman, C Company, 720th MP Battalion, October 1967 to October 1968.

In memory of SP/4 Lovell, C Company dedicated their Day Room in 1971 as the "Lovell Enlisted Men's Lounge." Courtesy of SP/4 Donn A. Herindeen, C Company & 615th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, March 1972 to March 1973.

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.

--- General / Personal ---
Last name: LOVELL
First name: LEWIS RANDOLPH JR
Home of Record (official): MARTINSVILLE
State (official): VA
Date of Birth: Wednesday, February 5, 1947
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Single

--- Military ---
Branch: Army
Rank: SP4
Serial Number: 11567236
Component: Regular
Pay grade: E4
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 95B20

--- Action ---
Start of Tour: Wednesday, December 20, 1967
Date of Casualty: Thursday, June 6, 1968
Age at time of loss: 21
Casualty type: (A1) Hostile, died
Reason: Other explosive device (Ground casualty)
Country: South VietNam
Province: Bien Hoa
The Wall: Panel 59W - Row 007

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