Austin’s day
Nearly 50 years after his death, receiving Naval Cross
Cpl. Stephen E. Austin, 21, USMC is the first of 40 names engraved on the Vietnam Memorial in Porterville’s Veterans Park. He was killed in action by sniper fire on June 8, 1968 in the Quang Nam province of Vietnam. Now, nearly 50 years to the day after his death, the Commandant of the Marine Corps will honor Austin with the Naval Cross on July 21 in Alexandria, Va., during a 50th reunion of the First Battalion of the 27th Marine Regiment. Surviving members of Austin’s family said they were notified of the recognition about a month ago. “The fog of his war prevented him from receiving his due citation for his actions that fateful day,” said brother Allen Austin, who has worked to keep his brother’s memory alive by creating a web page dedicated to him and other members of the First Battalion. “This recognition is late, but we’re very thankful.”
Allen said during previous Battalion reunions his fellow Marines had petitioned to have Austin recognized with a Sliver Star, but by the time the petition reached the Secretary of the Navy it was upgraded to the Navy Cross — the United States military’s second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.
Even though his official city of residence was Denair, Austin was born in Lindsay and moved away as a teenager. Allen said his brother always felt Porterville was his real home and that was where his friends lived.
Austin was one of 172 American soldiers who were killed during Operation Allen Brook, which lasted from May 4 until Aug. 24, 1968. Its purpose was to capture the two square mile Go Noi Island at the convergence of the Ky Lam, Ba Re and Chiem Son Rivers 25 miles south of Da Nang. The island was a stronghold and base for Vietcong and the People’s Army of Vietnam.
On the day Austin died, a sniper in an old fortified French bunker had he and his platoon pinned down in a house. Seeking to end the stalemate and get his men out of harm’s way, Austin took matters in to his own hands.
Al Joyner, a Marine who was with Austin when he was killed, described what he saw that day:
“Corporal Austin, disregarding his own safety, then stepped into the open from the house and advanced to the bunker in full view and under full fire of the enemy in an attempt to get close enough to throw a grenade into the bunker. He was wounded repeatedly by enemy fire but continued to advance on the bunker. As he was falling to the ground, he was able to throw his grenade up into the bunker slit to silence the enemy and assure a safe withdrawal of his squad and his platoon. A combination of rifle fire and the explosion of his own grenade resulted in Stephen’s death.”
Austin left behind a girlfriend and a daughter he never met. Her name is Neily Matthisesposito and lives in Carlsbad.
Allen recalls his family’s reaction upon hearing of Austin’s death:
“His last letter was pulled from his pocket with his blood stains and mailed by another Marine. We received it two days after we heard of his death. It was extremely emotional for us. My Mother literally fell to the floor. My Dad, a WWII and Korean War veteran, held it in. We were forever changed. As we now know, freedom isn’t free, and our family paid a high cost.”
In the letter, Austin’s final written words expressed a familiar sentiment among those who have experienced combat.
“I am so sick of fighting. I’ve seen and helped too many boys my age or younger that was wounded or dead,” wrote Austin. “I thank the Lord each morning I get up.”
Austin’s brother Allen and daughter Neily will accept the Naval Cross on his behalf at the ceremony in July.