By Katie Lange Defense Media Activity: Marine Inspires Troops to Victory In Lopsided Vietnam Battle
This week, we’re saluting a legendary Medal of Honor recipient who recently passed away. Marine Corps Col. Wesley Fox served for 43 years, and if it weren’t for the Korean War, he may not have joined at all.
Fox was born in 1931 in Herndon, Virginia, as the first of his parents’ 10 children. When he was in 8th grade, he quit school and began working full-time at his family’s farm. He had planned to make that his career, but then tensions kicked up in Korea. Since he had watched his cousins go off to fight in World War II, he felt a strong inclination toward serving the country. So in 1950, shortly after the Korean War began, he enlisted in the Marine Corps.
Fox did serve in Korea, but the heroic actions for which he earned the Medal of Honor came during the Vietnam War. In 1969, Fox was a first lieutenant and the commanding officer of Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. The unit was among those fighting in Operation Dewey Canyon, the last major Marine Corps offensive of the war.
