Adrian Salome Lopez

The database page for Adrian Salome Lopez

On February 16, 1968, the Third Force Recon Team Box Score engaged the enemy Southeast of Con Thien. During the initial engagement, one Marine was wounded and the team received a significant amount of incoming fire. Adrian (nicknamed "Trini") provided cover fire while the wounded Marine was being treated. When the initial medevac chopper attempted to land, Adrian continued to provide heavy return fire, bringing a great deal of attention to himself. When the second chopper was landing, Adrian assisted in carrying a wounded Marine to the chopper, attempting to provide some cover fire in the process. When the initial members of the team were on the chopper, he realized not everyone was aboard, so with complete disregard for his own safety, he attempted to jump off the chopper and assist the other casualties. He was mortally wounded at that time and died from his injuries on February 18, 1968. He was awarded the Silver Star for Heroism in Combat. He was a great Marine and person. A memorial initiated by the Box Score Team Corpsman, Stephen Thompson 322 Old Quarry Rd North, Larkspur, Ca 94939 Steve4247@aol.com 29 Sep 2002 Citation for the SILVER STAR MEDAL awarded to Private First Class Adrian S. Lopez United States Marine Corps For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Rifleman with Third Force Reconnaissance Company, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, Third Marine Division (Reinforced), in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 16 February 1968, Private Lopez was a member of a reconnaissance patrol operating southeast of Con Thien when they made contact with several North Vietnamese soldiers and during the brief fire-fight, one Marine was wounded. Exposing himself to the enemy fire, Private Lopez provided covering fire while the corpsman administered first aid to the casualty. Subsequently, while moving to a helicopter landing zone to evacuate the casualty, the Marines suddenly came under intense automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior force and sustained three additional casualties. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Private Lopez unhesitatingly directed a heavy volume of automatic rifle fire upon the hostile positions, attracting the attention and fire of the enemy away from the wounded. Moving to the side of a casualty, he ignored the enemy fire impacting around him and assisted in administering first aid. As a medical evacuation helicopter approached the landing site, he assisted a companion in moving a wounded man across forty meters of fire swept terrain to the helicopter. After embarking, he realized that three casualties were not aboard. With complete disregard for his own safety, he jumped from the helicopter in an attempt to rescue the injured men and was mortally wounded by a burst of enemy automatic weapons fire. His bold initiative and sincere concern for the welfare of his comrades were an inspiration to all who observed him and contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit's mission. By his courage, exceptional professionalism and steadfast devotion to duty, Private Lopez upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. For The President L.F. Chapman Commandant of the Marine Corps

2 Oct 2002 "We will always remember true heroes of the war" Anonymous E-mail address is not available.

15 Aug 2005 Lopez, my friend, I think of you often. God Bless You, and Keep You. Your Friend, F J Anderson Semper Fi E-mail address is not available.

The Box Score Patrol The events surrounding the Box Score patrol's engagement and the efforts to extract the team are a glowing example of Marine heroism under fire and were recognized as such at the time. Five of eight Box Score Team members, four aircrewmen from VMO-6, and one infantryman from Bravo 1/4 Marines died on 16 February 1968 and a number of others were wounded. The actions of the men involved in the engagement were recognized by one Medal of Honor, three Navy Crosses, five Silver Stars, and two Bronze Stars. The Virtual Wall takes pride in honoring the Americans who died in the Box Score engagement, and through them the men who survived. Details of the engagement are published on the Box Score Memorial Page The following Marines are honored on The Virtual Wall: From Team Box Score - 3rd Force Recon Company 2nd Lt Terrence Collinson Graves - KIA - Medal of Honor Cpl Robert Brian Thomson - KIA - Silver Star L/Cpl Steven Eric Emrick - KIA - Bronze Star PFC James Earl Honeycutt - KIA - Navy Cross PFC Adrian Salome Lopez - Died of Wounds - Silver Star From VMO-6 (UH-1E BuNo 151291) Capt Bobby Frank Galbreath - KIA - Navy Cross 1st Lt Paul Andrew Jensen - KIA SSgt Jimmy Ellison Tolliver - KIA Cpl Harry Warren Schneider - KIA From Bravo 1/4 Marines: Cpl William A. Lee - KIA

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Last updated 08/10/2009