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The Deaths of SFC Frank "Pappy"Alloysius Condon and SP/4 Lewis Randolph Lovell, Jr. 6 June 1968

During the hot dry afternoon of 6 June, SFC Frank "Pappy" Alloysius Condon, age 47, of Augusta, Georgia, and SP/4 Lewis Randolph Lovell, Jr., age 21, of Martinsville, Virginia, were conducting a routine C Company motorized patrol along the southern perimeter of Long Binh Post on Highway 317.

SP/4 Lovell, the driver of the MP jeep, proceeded east along the highway to the vicinity of Long Binh Post Gate #11 where he turned south on to Highway QL15 towards the Bear Cat Base Camp. After making the turn onto Highway QL15 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 (TAOR).

The trail approximately 400 yards long, ran east and west across the top of the small ridge (finger) parallel to the southern perimeter of the post and is approximately 300 yards south of the perimeter. This area of the TAOR 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 fashioned from a U.S. 105mm howitzer shell. The explosion from the mine was heard over two miles away at B Company Outpost #2 in Long Hung Village. The MP's at the outpost could also see the plume of dark smoke from the explosion.

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.

Additional information, photographs and the names of the MP's that responded to the incident. Please use the Email Link on the 6 June 1968 Time Line Page.