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PFC Gordon Leroy "Lee" Currier, Jr.
and his K9 Partner "Satch"

212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), 95th MP Battalion
89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade

Both Were Killed In Action ~ 31 January 1968 ~ Vietnam


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.

If you served with PFC Currier his brother would appreciate hearing from you.

Joe Currier
309 NW Lincolnwood Dr
Lees Summit, MO 64063
Home 816-525-3894
Office 816-525-3100

Email

     PFC Currier trained with the 981st MP Company (Sentry Dog), at Fort Carson, Colorado, and at Lackland AFB, Texas. The company deployed to Vietnam in December 1967, as a separate platoon, and joined the 212th MP Company, which was already in-country, as their 4th Platoon.

     During the early morning start of the Vietnamese Tet New Years Offensive on Wednesday, 31 January 1968, PFC Gordon Leroy Currier, Jr. age 22, of Independence, Missouri, was walking his post with his German Sheppard K9 partner, Satch (M164).

     PFC Currier and Satch were responsible for patrolling a section of the perimeter of the large 3rd Ordnance Ammunition Supply Depot located in the Long Binh Military Post.

     Through the early morning darkness the Viet Cong forces attacked the perimeter area of Tower #13 in force. PFC Currier and his K9 partner Satch defended their position against the initial assault. During the attack he was forced to move back to the base of a perimeter watch tower with his K-9 partner where they set up to again confront the enemy. They were overwhelmed by the attackers and killed by small arms fire.

     As reported by CPT Thomas Roberts (COL Ret), Commanding Officer, 212th MP Company, November 1967 to June 1968, and 2LT Gary Freedman, Platoon Leader, 212th MP Company, December 1967 to December 1968. Photographs courtesy of Joe Currier.
 
2 May 1968 The Currier family received a letter from Major General Kenneth G. Wickham, Adjuant General, Department Of The Army, offering them his sympathy in the loss of their son and notifying them that PFC Currier was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service, the Purple Heart Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

--- General / Personal ---
Last name: CURRIER
First name: GORDON LEROY JR
Home of Record (official): INDEPENDENCE
State (official): MO
Date of Birth: Thursday, January 24, 1946
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Single

--- Military ---
Branch: Army
Rank: PFC
Serial Number: 55986184
Component: Selective Service
Pay grade: E3
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 95B10

--- Action ---
Start of Tour: Wednesday, December 6, 1967
Date of Casualty: Wednesday, January 31, 1968
Age at time of loss: 22
Casualty type: (A3) Hostile, died while missing
Reason: Gun, small arms fire (Ground casualty)
Country: South Vietnam
Province: Bien Hoa
The Wall: Panel 36E - Row 004

23 June 2006 Letter from CPT James T. Robert, Jr. Commanding Officer, Vietnam

28 June 2006 "New Kennel at Fort George Meade, Maryland, honors fallen heroes." A working dog kennel was dedicated as the new Gordon L. Currier Jr. Military Working Dog Kennel, a home to four military working dogs that patrol and support Fort Meade and, at times, support the President of the United States.

10 May 2007 Email from SGT Paul Vanhoy, 3rd Ordnance Battalion, Long Binh, Vietnam 1967-1968.

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