PFC Dan Bullock was the youngest American soldier to die in the Vietnam War. The Goldsboro, North Carolina native was only 15 at the time of his death.
After his mother died, his family moved to New York. Discouraged by the limited opportunities there, Dan took a bold step at age 14: he walked into a Marine recruiting station with a forged birth certificate and enlisted. He had changed the document to show December 21, 1949, though his actual birth date was December 21, 1953.
He went on to Parris Island where he successfully completed basic training. Dan Bullock arrived in Vietnam on May 18, 1969. He was assigned to Fox Company, Second Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment in Quang Nam Province as a rifleman. Less than one month after his arrival in country on June 7th 1969, Dan Bullock was killed by small arms fire while on night watch at his base.
A June 13, 1969, article from the New York Times reported that the young man felt enlisting would be the quickest way to get an education. Bullock’s father spoke about his son’s motivation for enlisting:
…he wanted to make his mark in life—he wanted to be something
Dan Bullock’s remains were returned to Goldsboro where he was laid to rest. The name of Dan Bullock is inscribed on Panel 23W, Line 96 of The Wall in Washington, D.C.
In this series of articles I will remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Please leave a comment and share this article with those in your community.
Follow me for other stories of our American heroes.
Some of us are old enough to remember the Vietnam War. Let us not forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
senior Scoops 
Leave a comment