Rank: E3/USMC
Unit: E Company, 3rd Recon Battalion, 3rd Marine Division
Date of Birth: 01 May 1947 (Santa Rosa NM)
Home City of Record: Borger, Texas
Date of Loss: 18 May 1968
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 163813N 1064116E (XD800400)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 3
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: Ground
Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing)
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal David E. Padilla arrived in
Vietnam on May 16, 1967. He had only a short time to serve when
he was sent on a several-day reconnaissance patrol in the Khe
Sanh area of Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam.
The events of the patrol are cloudy. Several teammembers were
killed or wounded in unspecified action, probably against the NVA
27th Independent Battalion, which had been observed operating in
the Camp Carroll area. One fellow Marine, wishing more
information about Padilla's fate, filed a Freedom of Information
request through the Marine Corps.
The Marine Corps responded that they have no offical documents
describing the events of the action, and forwarded a DD Form 1300,
Report of Casualty, containing releasable information on LCPL
Padilla. According to the DD Form 1300, Padilla "died 18 May
1968 Quang Tri Province Republic of Vietnam result multiple
wounds to the entire body from hostile mortar fire while on a
reconnaissance patrol."
The Marines listed David E. Padilla as killed in action, body not
recovered. He is listed with honor among the missing because no
remains were returned to his country for burial.
Family and friends of the missing are continually frustrated in
attempts to learn details of the loss of American servicemen.
When records do exist, they are all-too-frequently classifed.
Some families have learned they will have to wait half a century
before the records of their loved one are declassified. Until
then they must wonder and wait.
We are very proud to have adopted U.S. Marine Corps Lance
Corporal David E. Padilla on 01 May 1998, which would have been
his 51st Birthday.
U.S. Marine Corps Lance David E. Padilla
and pray your family finds peace in knowing others care....
Knocking On Heavens Door
(Bob Dylan)
Mama take
this badge from me
I can't use it anymore
It's getting dark too dark to see
Feel i'm knockin' on heaven's door
Knock knock knockin' on heaven's door
Mama wipe this blood from my face
I'm sick and tired of all this war
There's a long hard feelin' and it's hard to chase
Feel i'm knockin' on heaven's door
Chorus
Mama put these guns to the ground
I can't shoot them anymore
Theres a long black train and it's comin' round
Feels like knockin' on heaven's door
Chorus