McCarroll, Ivy Murphy, Jr., SGT

Order of the Spur

This Military Service Page was created/owned by SGT David O Olsen to remember McCarroll, Ivy Murphy, Jr., SGT.

If you knew or served with this Soldier and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.

FINAL MISSION OF SGT IVY M. MCCARROLL JR.- During May 1967, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry was conducting combat operations in the Duc Pho District of Quang Ngai Province, RVN, during Operation Baker. At 9:00 AM on May 20, 1967, A Company, 2-35, located a Viet Cong bunker complex 100 yards west of their previous night’s location. An engineer squad from D Company, 65th Engineer Battalion, was airlifted with explosives to a nearby landing zone and was carried by an armored personnel carrier (APC) to the enemy bunker location. Elements from both C Company, 3-4 Cavalry and A Company, 2-35 provided security while the engineers worked on the destruction of the Viet Cong camp and its bunker complex. At 12:21 PM, the work party came under attack by a Viet Cong force. Firing rocket-propelled grenades, the enemy hit one of the APC's, killing the track commander and driver, and destroying the vehicle. The two lost crewmen were SGT Ivy M. McCarroll Jr. and SSG Lonnie L. Smith. Heavy enemy resistance during the engagement drove back the work party and reinforcing units to the southwest. An airstrike was called on the enemy position which helped break up their concentrated force. Nevertheless, a flyover by a Forward Air Controller reported twenty armed enemy combatants moving towards the abandoned APC. A U.S. ground element was sent towards the enemy position at the APC. Upon arrival, they engaged the Viet Cong unit, killing two including one inside the destroyed track. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Report, U.S. Army, 2nd Battalion 35th Infantry - Operational Report for Quarterly Period ending 31 July 1967 - Operation Baker, 01 May to 31 July 1967” at ttu.edu]