USMC Cpl Randy Alton Harrill
Birth: Sep. 25, 1947 Lincolnton, Lincoln Co., NC
Death: Jun. 22, 1967 Quang Nam, Vietnam.
USMC Cpl Randy Alton Harrill native of Lincoln Co., NC was 19 years old and was not married. Randy died from artillery fire. His body was recovered.
Randy remained an important part of his family due to all the stories heard from his Mother, Grandma and Grandfather Bob; the family retains a copy of the article that “Popa Bob” would carry to “The Wall” each year when he would go visit. The story most remembered is when Randy came home one afternoon and went running into the kitchen to see his Grandparents. He came out and told them that he was joining the Marines, but first he was going to graduate High School. Randy did as he said and before they knew it he was off.
A good friend of Randy’s says that he was a great friend very quiet and once you became his friend he was always there. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and driving fast cars. Randy was considered a loner and quiet. He had a nice Red Chevrolet Impala and he and a friend were trying to see how fast we could get it to go and got to 110 mph which was the fastest either one of had ever gone. That same day driving was the first day they heard the Beatles play. They were singing “I want to hold you hand”. Randy was a big guy over 6 feet and always wore a blue jean jacket and jean pants with cuffs turned up out side.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert A Harrill of Charlotte, NC. He served with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd MAF. He was awarded The Combat Action Ribbon, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Burial: Sharon Memorial Park Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC.
(Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA’s gravesites
; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)
