Dan Bullock

Dan Bullock (December 21, 1953 – June 7, 1969) was a United States Marine and the youngest U.S. serviceman killed in action during the Vietnam War,[1] dying at the age of 15.

Dan Bullock
Born	(1953-12-21)December 21, 1953[1] Goldsboro, North Carolina, U.S.[2]
Died	June 7, 1969(1969-06-07) (aged 15) An Hoa Combat Base, Quảng Nam Province, South Vietnam[2]
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Rank	Private first class
Unit	Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division[3]
Battles/wars	Vietnam War †

Early life and education

Bullock was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He lived in North Carolina until he was about 12, when his mother died and he and his younger sister, Gloria, moved to Brooklyn to live with their father and his wife.[4] He said he wanted to become a pilot, a police officer, or a U.S. Marine.[5]

Career

When he was 14 years old, he altered the date on his birth certificate to show that he was born December 21, 1949. He processed through the recruiting station, and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on September 18, 1968. He was a member of Platoon 3039 at Parris Island. At first he struggled to make it through, but was able to do so with the help of one of his fellow recruits.[6][7] Bullock graduated from boot camp on December 10, 1968.[8]

Private first class Bullock arrived in the Republic of Vietnam on May 18, 1969, and was assigned as a rifleman in 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Company F, 2nd Battalion 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was stationed at An Hoa Combat Base, west of Hội An in Quảng Nam Province. Less than a month later on June 7, 1969, Bullock and 3 other Marines were occupying a bunker near the base airstrip when a People's Army of Vietnam sapper unit attacked the base at night, throwing a satchel charge into the bunker killing all 4 Marines; Bullock was just 15 years old. He had been assigned to cleaning duty that night, but was transferred to the night watch after one Marine was wounded on night duty.[9][10][11]

After he was interred, his gravesite did not have a marker. A veteran's marker was finally provided in 2000.[12]

Legacy

On June 7, 2003 a section of Lee Avenue in Brooklyn, where Bullock had lived since age 11, was renamed in his honor. In 2019, a North Carolina state historical marker honoring his life was erected near his childhood home in Goldsboro NC. Marine Corps League, Brooklyn #1, Detachment 217 usually holds a color guard memorial ceremony each June on Lee Avenue honoring Pfc. Bullock.[9]

References

1. "PFC Dan Bullock". findagrave.com].
2. "Dan Bullock". Dan_Bullock enotes.com.
3. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/find-a-grave-prod/photos/2001/222/bullockdan.jpg
4. "A Marine Too Young To Drive, Let Alone Die Pfc. Dan Bullock Was Only 15 When He Was Killed In Vietnam. A Friend Who Lives In Mount Laurel Is Pushing To Have That Sacrifice Recognized". philly.com. October 30, 2000. (three-page article)
5. Only The Good Die Young: In Memory Of PFC Dan Bullock http://www.inquisitr.com/168102/only-the-good-die-young-in-memory-of-pfc-dan-bullock/
6. "Who was the youngest U.S. soldier killed in the Vietnam War". 18 October 2016.
7. "Brooklyn Marine was only 15 when he was killed in Vietnam".
8. "Bullock, Dan, PFC". Together We Served.
9. "Rest in Peace USMC PFC Dan Bullock; youngest Vietnam KIA at age 15". The Washington Syndicate. wordpress.com. May 29, 2010.
10. Brian Thomas Gallagher (7 June 2019). "He Enlisted at 14, Went to Vietnam at 15 and Died a Month Later". The New York Times.
11. Momodo, Samuel. "Dan Bullock (1953 - 1969)". Blackpast. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
12. "PFC. DAN BULLOCK FOUNDATION, INC. Youngest American KIA in Vietnam War'". Archived from the original on 2002-08-03.

Further reading

• "Marine, 15, Killed in Vietnam; Enlisted at 14, Lying About Age; MARINE, 15, DIES IN VIETNAM WAR". The New York Times. June 13, 1969.(subscription required)