Private First Class Russell Eugene "Rusty" Pesewonit
Comanche/Mescalero Apache
US Marine Corps, Vietnam War
Company M, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines
3rd Marine Division (the Fighting Third)
Killed in Action on July 22, 1966

PFC Pesewonit was born in Lawton and grew up on the Mescalero Apache Reservation, New Mexico. He was a Rifleman. He was killed during Operation Hastings in the Dong Ha/Cam Lo of Quang Tri Province. The following is an account given by a fellow Marine who was with PFC Pesewonit when he was killed "After a firefight in the afternoon that lasted quite a while and toward the evening hours, our platoon got called to move up. I saw dead Marines and NVA while moving up the hill. They told our squad we had to go to the top of the hill to set up a listening post from the main perimeter for the night. We kept very close intervals beacuse it was thick brush and darkness was setting in. I really think most of us thought the fighting was over and all the gooks spilt, it wasn't that way. Pesewonit, my close Indian friend, was killed instantly right in front of me. There were still NVA dug in and we walked right into them within 30 feet." PFC Pesewonit was shot in the stomach by small arms fire. LTC E.E. Broner wrote of PFC Pesewonit, "Russell's cheerful disposition and devotion to dury gained the respect of all who know him." His name is on panel 09E, line 059 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. PFC Pesewonit is buried at the Mescalero Indian Cemetery on the Mescalero Apache Reservation, New Mexico and will forever be 19 years old (DOB March 28, 1947).