ASA KIA--SP5 Larry P. Westcott

Sp/5 Gary P. Westcott

April 24, 1951 March 30, 1972 Killed in Action

--- General / Personal ---

Last name: WESTCOTT
First name: GARY PATRICK
Home of Record (official): POMONA
State (official): CA
Date of Birth: Tuesday, April 24, 1951
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Married

--- Military ---

Branch: Army
Rank: SP5
Serial Number: 573760459
Component: Regular
Pay grade: E5
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 98G26

--- Action ---

Start of Tour: Thursday, March 30, 1972
Date of Casualty: Thursday, March 30, 1972
Age at time of loss: 20
Casualty type: (A3) Hostile, died while missing
Reason: Artillery, rocket, mortar (Ground casualty)
Country: South VietNam
Province: Quang Tri
The Wall: Panel 02W - Row 125

LASTNAME: WESTCOTT FIRSTNAME: GARY PATRICK IDNO: 573760459 SVC: A COMP: R RANK: SP5 GRADE: E5 MOS: 98G26 AGE: 20 HOME: POMONA ST: CA CASDATE: 19720330 CAS1: A3 CAS2: E CAS3: 7 BODY: BNR CTRY: VS PROV: 01 LSVC: ** BIRDATE: 19510424 RACE: C REL: LU MAR: M SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 720330 PANL: 02W LINE: 125 REFNO: 30079 PDATE: 7206

Details:

SP5 Larry P. Westcott was a member of the 8th Radio Research Field Station (RRFS), 509th Radio Research (RR) Group. "Radio Research" was actually a secret cover designation for certain units operating under the direction of the U.S. Army Security Agency Group, Vietnam. All missions of this agency were highly classified. Crosby and Westcott's unit operated under USASA through its 8th U.S. Army Security Agency Field Station at Phu Bai. The 8th USASA Field Station handled classified functions related to the safeguarding of the Army and its affiliated activities including signal security and electronic intelligence.

In March, 1972, Crosby and Westcott were serving as advisors to the 4th Battalion, Vietnamese Marine Corps. He was stationed at firebase "Sarge" on Hill 550 near Don Toan Mountain and the hamlet of Cua Mai Loc Village in Cam Lo District, Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. Firebase Sarge was located in the vicinity of grid coordinates YD028479.

On 30 March 1972, at approximately 12:00 noon, Fire Support Base Sarge was subjected to an intense enemy artillery attack from the 304th NVA Division. SP4 Crosby and SP5 Westcott were ordered to maintain radio contact with Detachment Alpha at Quang Tri and individuals at the firebase. The last radio contact from Crosby and Westcott was received at 2:45 PM when their Radio Research bunker took a direct hit from a rocket. The round penetrated the bunker wall and exploded inside, caving in the roof and setting off an intense fire. Other members of the advisor group called down into the bunker, but received no response from either man. No rescue attempt was possible because of the fire and continuing heavy artillery attack.

Firebase Sarge was abandoned 37 hours after the Radio Research bunker took the direct hit, and the fire was still burning in it at that time. Reports from other team members state "everything in the bunker was totally destroyed," and "there was absolutely no hope that Crosby and Westcott were alive." The firebase was abandoned at 2:00 AM on 1 April 1972.

Both Bruce Crosby and Gary Westcott were originally listed as Missing in Action. On 27 June 1972 their status was changed to Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered (KIA/BNR).
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