Point on Point 5/26/1969

Marine Corps Private First Class

John Marvin Stenberg

 

United States Marine Corps.

1st Recon Battalion

Alpha Company

1st Marine Division

Last Known Activity
John (or "Little John" as he was known to the Marines in his platoon) was an excellant point man. During his short tour of duty in Viet Nam, he led many Recon teams in the bush with great success. He was a hard worker and a loyal Marine. He died with honor and he is missed by all who knew him. Gary Kline

PFC Stenberg was featured in the June 27, 1969 LIFE magazine cover story entitled "The Faces of the American Dead in Vietnam: One Week's Toll."

Twenty-five men, killed in one week in the late spring of 1969, who did not have their pictures in the June 27, 1969, issue of LIFE. John M. Stenberg was one of these men.

Read more: Click Here

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 24W, Line 113.

Family:

Father: Carroll LeRoy Stenberg
Birth: 17 Mar 1927 in Borup, Norman, Minnesota, USA
Death: 16 Dec 1989 in Pasco, Franklin, Washington, USA
(Had Emphasema)

Mother: Dorothy Ann Smith, Stenberg, Lucca
Birth: Living, Private


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Remembrances
The following remembrances have been left at The Virtual Wall for

JOHN MARVIN STENBERG:

The Faces Behind the Names

John Marvin Stenberg
Marine Corps Private First Class
Born: September 3, 1948
Died: May 26, 1969

John Marvin Stenberg was born to Carroll and Dorothy Stenberg in Mondovi, Wisconsin. Carroll and Dorothy moved to International Falls, Minnesota in 1950. John grew up in International Falls, and graduated from Falls High School on June 1, 1967. During John's senior year of high school, he participated in the wrestling program, which he enjoyed tremendously. He was very strong and lifted weights regularly. John was short and stocky compared to his friends, who were all 6 feet tall, so they called him "Stubby." He enjoyed the outdoors, and worked at many local resorts. One of his close friends recalls a time they "put up ice" for the famous Kettle Falls Hotel, now located in Voyageurs National Park on Rainy Lake. John and his friends used large saw blades to cut the ice and then store it in layers of sawdust in an ice house.


John was hot-tempered, but never liked to fight. He was good-hearted, and he was always there to help someone else. He attended college at Rainy River Community College in International Falls for a short time, but he didn't enjoy it.
John and four of his friends enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on March 4, 1968.

John received 13 weeks of boot camp training in San Diego, California, and was sent overseas on December 18, 1968, as a member of Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. John volunteered for the Reconnaissance Program. He adapted well because he was in such good shape physically. John's friends shared with us that he knew he wouldn't be returning home from Vietnam.


John was killed Monday, May 26, 1969 by hostile small arms fire in Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam. His body was flown from San Francisco, California to Minneapolis, Minnesota, then flown home by private plane, accompanied by his close friend, Pfc. Charles A. Williams, USMC.


John Stenberg will always be missed and remembered as a loving family member and also a good friend to those who were fortunate enough to know him.

The family of John Stenberg

From "The Faces Behind the Names," by Don Ward

Semper Fidelis, Marine!

Posted by: Jim McIlhenney
Relationship: Marine Viet Nam Veteran
Sunday, April 20, 2008

At the end of the road to Rainy Lake
Posted by: Professor Richard D. Holen

I remember John Marvin Stenberg. He and I grew up in International Falls, Minnesota and attended high school together. I was in Vietnam when Johnny Stenberg was killed and didn't hear about his death until I came home. It was
a shock to everyone in the Falls. He was well liked by everyone. He always had a smile on his face and enjoyed football,ice hockey,fishing and deer hunting. Rainy Lake was one of the places we all loved and fished for Walleye Pike as much as we could. His death still causes a knot in all our hearts and his spirit can still be felt near Sha Sha Resort, at the end of road to Rainy Lake.

Posted by: Professor Richard D. Holen
Relationship: We grew up together
Monday, September 4, 2000

To the cousin I never knew, but is in my heart always.
Posted for: JOHN MARVIN STENBERG:

I never knew you. But I learned who you were through the stories of my father. And I began to study. Soon I found myself emersed in the Vietnam War. And I shared the pain, the heartbreak, the terror, the saddness. By the Lord's hand I found the moving Wall in my town one day. And I cried at the sight of your name, for a long time. I brought my father back with me the next day, and we both cried together. You are in our hearts always, and as the people in our family become few, I wish I had you now........but I do. Peace be with you John, I shall see you in God's heaven oneday. Love Ryan T. Seabold

Posted by: Ryan T. Seabold
Relationship: My cousin
Thursday, November 1, 2001

John Stenberg - Posted by Sue (Begg) Hams
John M. Stemberg joined the Marines in 1967 in International Falls Minnesota. At the age of 18. He was in the Recon Division of The Marine Core. He was a point man. He stood up to motion to his platoon and he was shot in the back. He passed away in May 26, 1969 at the age of 20.

Posted by: Sue (Begg) Hams
Relationship: He is my brother
Thursday, October 20, 2011

We Remember
Posted for: JOHN MARVIN STENBERG:

John is buried at American Legion Cemetery, International Falls, MN. PH

Posted by: Robert Sage
Sunday, August 7, 2011

Private First Class John Marvin Stenberg

John

Posted 4/2/2022 by: Ronald Overton, 1st Recon Battalion Association

Sgt Garry Kline of Alpha Company, 1stReconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division


Garry was from Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He enlisted on the Buddy Plan with his twin brother late in 1967. They got separated after Boot Camp and Garry went to Vietnam. He was 18.


He distinguished himself early. After one patrol, his Platoon Commander, Lt. Chip Gregson said, “I’m writing you up. Do you want a medal or a stripe?”.

Garry, seeing dollar signs, opted for the stripe and he received a Meritorious Combat promotion to Corporal. This happened again and he received a Meritorious Combat promotion to Sergeant. For the record, you might know Chip Gregson as Lieutenant General Gregson. Oh, and Garry spent his career as the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of a tech company in Phoenix. Just saying.


Towards the end of his tour, he was leading a seven (7) man recon team on a humper in An Hoa valley when they ran into a large NVA force. The point man "John Marvin Stenberg" was killed instantly and Garry laid down enough suppressing fire to enable the team to establish a defensive position. Garry then called for support and received it from an AO, gunships and fixed wing. When the extraction helicopter arrived on scene, Garry marked their position by exposing himself. This is when they were hit by an RPG wounding five of them. Garry later described it as “when I got blown up”. He was in hospitals recuperating for a year and a half.

He received the Silver Star. He had just turned 19.
I had dinner with him and his wife Valerie recently and he’s doing great. He has 16 grandkids and a 14 year-old great-grandson. OoohRah!

Semper Fidelis


Sgt Garry Kline

Garry, Bergin, Wilson and Thornton - January 1969

Forest Hill Cemetery

International Falls, Minnesota

Garry D. Kline
 

 
HOME OF RECORD:
Manitowoc, Wisconsin
 

 

AWARDS BY DATE OF ACTION:1 of 1

Silver Star
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Sergeant
Battalion: 1st Reconnaissance Battalion
Division: 1st Marine Division (Rein.), FMF
GENERAL ORDERS:
 

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Garry D. Kline (MCSN: 2351248), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Patrol Leader with Company A, First Reconnaissance Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 26 May 1969, Sergeant Kline was leading a seven-man team on a long-range reconnaissance patrol in the An Hoa area of Quang Nam Province when the Marines came under fire from a well-concealed, numerically superior hostile force and the point man was mortally wounded. With complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Kline unhesitatingly rushed the enemy position, firing his weapon and wounded several of the hostile soldiers. As a result of his single-handed attack, the enemy withdrew long enough for the Marines to establish a hasty defense. Shortly thereafter, the hostile unit surrounded the patrol and enemy reinforcements moved in, throwing grenades and firing automatic weapons. After contacting headquarters and requesting air support and an emergency extraction, Sergeant Kline repeatedly exposed himself to the hostile fire in order to mark targets for the aircraft. Fearlessly maneuvering from one position to another, he directed the fire of his men and shouted words of encouragement to the beleaguered team until the extraction helicopter arrived overhead. When the pilot was unable to locate the team, Sergeant Kline valiantly rushed out into the open to signal the aircraft with an air panel, and when doing so, was severely wounded by the fragments from an enemy rocket-propelled grenade. Ignoring the intense pain from his injuries, he crawled back to his men, turned over his radio to his assistant, and instructed him on how to proceed with the extraction, before he lost consciousness and was subsequently evacuated from the hazardous area. By his courage, aggressive leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Sergeant Kline upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

PFC John Marvin Stenberg

Panama Hat

Alpha Company

Point Man

KIA 5/26/1969

PFC John Marvin Stenberg

In June 1969, LIFE magazine published a feature that remains as moving and, in some quarters, as controversial as it was when it intensified a nation’s soul-searching 53 years ago. On the cover was the image of a young man and 11 stark words: “The Faces of the American Dead in Vietnam: One Week’s Toll.” Inside, across 10 funereal pages, LIFE published picture after picture and name after name of 242 young men killed in seven days halfway around the world “in connection with the conflict in Vietnam.”

To no one’s surprise, the public’s response was immediate, and visceral. Some readers expressed amazement, in light of the thousands of American deaths suffered in a war with no end in sight, that it took so long for LIFE to produce something as dramatic and pointed as “One Week’s Toll.” Others were outraged that the magazine was, as one reader saw it, “supporting the antiwar demonstrators who are traitors to this country.” Still others perhaps the vast majority were quietly and disconsolately devastated.

LIFE magazine, June 27, 1969, featuring a portrait of U.S. Army specialist William C. Gearing, Jr., one of 242 American servicemen killed in a single week of fighting during the Vietnam War.

Here are some of the reactions from readers, published in the August 18, 1969, issue of LIFE an issue in which the entire Letters section of the magazine was given over to responses to “One Week’s Dead”:

“Your story was the most eloquent and meaningful statement on the wastefulness and stupidity of war I have ever read.” From a reader in California

“Certainly these tragic young men were far superior to the foreign policy they were called upon to defend.” From a U.S. Marine Corps Captain (resigned)

“I feel you are supporting the antiwar demonstrators who are traitors to this country. You are helping them and therefore belong to this group.” From a reader in Texas

“I cried for those Southern black soldiers. What did they die for? Tar paper shacks, malnutrition, unemployment and degradation?” From a reader in Ohio

“While looking at the photographs I was shocked to see the smiling face of someone I used to know. He was only 19 years old. I guess I never realized that 19-year-olds have to die.” From a reader in Georgia

“I felt I was staring into the eyes of the 11 troopers from my platoon who were killed while fighting for a cause they couldn’t understand.” From a Marine second lieutenant in New Jersey who commanded a rifle platoon in Vietnam

"I see death coming up the hill"

Our Teammates may be gone, but they will never be forgotten!

Sgt JAMES BINGENHEIMER Age 23, Atlantic City

PFC David Julian Gier Age 19, Honolulu, HI

LCpl CLEMENT B JOHNSTON JR,

Age 18, Pittsburgh, PA

LCpl DALE PENNINGTON, Age 20, Culver, IN

LCpl JIMMY R HOLKEM,  Age 22, Stevenson, AL

Age 21, Cayey, PR

Cpl DANIEL L MITCHELL,  Age 22, Ballwin, MO

ARTHUR P GRAY IV, 1stLt, Age 24, Richmond, VA

RICHARD W EVANS, Cpl, Age 21, St Petersburg, FL

GARY W RAGSDALE, LCpl, Age 19, Kerman, CA

Sgt ROE HOPSON JR,

Age 21, Milo, KY

Pvt CRAIG M YANCEY,  Age 19, Tulsa, OK

THOMAS D WORREL, LCpl, Age 20, Roanoke, IN

1st Lt HENRY P RATHMELL, Age 23, Muncy, PA

PFC ROBERT A HANEY,   Age 18, Duluth, MN

PFC John Marvin Stenberg

Point Man 1st Recon Alpha Company KIA 5/26/1969

Age 20, International Falls, MN

GILBERT "Gil" PEREZ

He died peacefully last night 1/23/2022 with his devoted wife, Lucille, at his side.

Doug Wolfe

KIA

He died peacefully 3/31/2022 with his family at his side.

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