Gregory A. Shelley was born on October 15, 1947. His home of record is Palisades Park, NJ. He attended St. Pius X High School in Kansas City, MO. He also attended Saint Charles Borromeo Elementary School in Gladstone, MO. He attended Saint Charles after moving from Oklahoma.
He served in the US Marine Corps and attained the rank of Corporal (CPL).
Shelley was killed in action on June 7, 1968. On that day the 1st Bn, 26th Marines were conducting a sweep along the Bon Song River. Alpha 1/26 was providing a screening force along the river while Delta 1/26 was moving through the hills along the river. Charlie 1/26 was in echelon behind Delta, with the Command Group and H&S Company bringing up the rear. As Delta 1/26 crested a ridgeline they took fire from a trench line. The company established a base of fire, flanked the trench line, and forced the NVA to withdraw—but only 50 yards behind the first. Charlie 1/26 sent help and Delta buckled down to assaulting the second trench line—and once again forced the NVA from their lines. This action, though costly, was only a prelude. The NVA troops engaged by Delta 1/26 were a covering force for the NVA main body, which withdrew into the Alpha 1/26 position—and were engaged by the Alpha 1/26 Marines in a bloody fight. By the time the NVA escaped through the gap between Alpha’s flank and the oncoming Delta Marines, 20 Marines and 2 sailors had dead. As a member of the A Company, Gregory Shelley was one of them.
Shelley is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery, AL.
Sources: Various websites, www.virtualwall.org, vvmf.org, St. Pius X High School and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
