This is Capt. DeBona's letter to Richard's parents about the 21-year-old corporal's death at Khe Sanh. A transcript follows:

COMPANY "M"
3d Battalion, 26th Marines
FPO San Francisco 96602
23 July 1967

Mr. and Mrs. Edward D. Sutter
Atlanta, Georgia

My dear Mr. and Mrs. Sutter:

It is difficult for me to express the regrets and sorrow felt by all the members of this Company and myself of the untimely death of your son, Corporal Richard F. Sutter, U.S. Marine Corps on 21 July 1967 at Khe Sanh, Quang Tri Province, Republic of South Vietnam.

Richard, as you know, was a rifleman with the First Platoon of my Company. The Company was on a search and destroy operation when they came under heavy enemy automatic weapons fire. In the fight that ensued your son was critically wounded. A corpsman rushed to his side and administered first aid but Richard failed to respond and died of his wound at 10:05 a.m. It may comfort you to know the last rites of the church were given by Lieutenant Bede Wattigny, a U.S. Navy Chaplain.

A mass will be held in your son's honor in our Battalion Chapel on 23 July 1967.

Richard's cheerful disposition, uprightness, and devotion to duty won for him the respect of all who knew him. Although I realize that words can do little to console you, I do hope the knowledge that your son is keenly missed and that we share your sorrow will in some measure alleviate the suffering caused you by your great loss.

If you feel that I can be of any help to you, please do not hesitate to write.

Sincerely yours,
Andrew D. DeBona
Captain, U.S. Marine Corps
Commanding