Sergeant Marvin Lindley
A Glimpse of the Early Life & Military
Service of an American Patriot
Dean Knox, Commanding Officer
B Company, 2/12th Cavalry
Marvin Lindley was not born on 5 November 1939 as his military records reflect. This fact was recently confirmed by Fern Lindley, his 84 year old mother who related how Marvin, highly motivated at an early age to join the army and become a paratrooper, falsified his birth date and joined up at age 16. His true birth date is 5 November 1940 and remains known to very few.
Born in Spanish Fork, UT, he was one of three boys of the Roy and Fern Lindley family. Early in his life, the family moved to Price, UT when his father worked in the coal mines. Later the family relocated to Payson UT and eventually back to Spanish Fork when his dad found employment with the Geneva Steel Mill in Provo, UT. Roy commuted to work at Geneva for many years as he supported and raised his family and retired from that company. The family never moved again from Spanish Fork and the boys grew to maturity there. Marvin is buried in Spanish Fork Cemetery near his grandparents who were early settlers in the Salt Lake Valley. Roy who passed away a couple of years ago is also buried there next to his son.
Fern relates that the three boys were feisty in there youth and certainly close to one another. Duane, his brother tells of many scraps that Marvin got into and being the bigger of the two, he was called on to help finish. When there was no one else to fight, they frequently got into it with each other. Ferns neighbors remember Marvin as a friendly youngster who became a fine young man as he matured into his teens. He was a friendly likeable youngster of small stature, yet he was able to earn his football letter during his high school days which speaks to his tenacity and positive attitude more then his size.
Marvin grew up in a wonderful environment at the base of the Wasatch Mountain where alpine beauty raises from the valley floor to produce a peace full and tranquil tapestry of varying colors as the seasons come and go. Family outings and fishing trips were common activities as the mountains offered easy access to lakes and streams. A sign given to Roy by his family and placed where visitors can easily see it reads, A fisherman lives here with the catch of his life perhaps attesting to the focus of recreational.
Fern says that Roy was very proud of his sons and the best of fathers even if a bit gruff at times. We get insight into that aspect of the environment Marvin and his brothers grew up in when she tells of getting so exasperated at the antics of her super active threesome that she once demanded that they be spanked. Roy’s response... If you can't talk it into em, you can't beat it into them.
It was and remains the practice of youngsters in Spanish Fork and nearby Payson to befriend and even date girls from the other community even if they were avowed enemies on the athletic field at other times. It was told that Marvin met and dated Jane Jackson during those High School years. Much later while on leave from his initial military training, he spotted Jane in town and announced to those present that there was the girl he was going to marry. Indications are that Jane Jackson was unaware at that time when Marvin made that statement.
Marvin joined the Army right out of High School in 1957. As noted, he falsified his age (probably in collusion with the local recruiter), got his parents consent to enlist and at the age of 16 left home to pursue his life long desire to become an army paratrooper. Fern states that she knows his correct birth date was on the enlistment papers when she and Roy signed them but what happened between the house and the recruiters’ office is only open to speculation now.
Ft. Carson, CO was his first stop for basic training and then he was off to Columbus, GA and Ft. Benning for more training including basic airborne school. He hitch hiked back to Spanish Fork for Xmas that year, spending the money Fern and Roy had sent him to come home on for family gifts rather then transportation. Fern described Marvin as always being a giving child from the time he was small and this act of generosity and thoughtfulness exemplifies that statement.
While home, the courting of Jane Jackson who was still in High School continued in earnest. It was an effective effort on Marvin’s part for as Fern relates Jane and she went to Ft. Campbell KY where Marvin was now posted when Jane graduated from High School. That was a graduation present to Jane from her parents and when her mother could not go along, Fern did instead.
One day, while at Ft. Campbell and in the Post Exchange Cafeteria, Marvin spotted his Commanding Officer, got his attention and introduced him to his mother and soon to be wife. General William Westmoreland who was later to become the Commander of Forces in Vietnam was the Commander of the 101st Airborne Division at that time and graciously welcomed them to the post. ‘Later, when Marvin was injured in a jump accident at Ft. Campbell, General Westmoreland brought Marvin home on convalescent leave when the General had occasion to come to Hill Field, UT. Fern and Roy met the plane with Marvin on board and brought him to Spanish Fork for recuperation and eventual return to duty at Ft. Campbell. Fern remains most thankful to General Westmoreland for his kindness and thoughtfulness.
Marvin and Jane were married at Ft. Campbell, KY where they established there first home. Shortly thereafter, orders arrived and Marvin was directed to duty in Korea without his family for one year. Prior to his departure, Jane now expecting their first child returned to Spanish Fork and remained there during the year separation. Their son Brad was born soon after. Marvin returned a year later to gather up his family and meet his son for the first time. The Lindley’s then moved to Ft. Benning, GA where at Christmas, 1963, their daughter Terry Lee was born.
Marvin was assigned as an instructor in the Airborne Training Department of the Infantry School at Ft. Benning. As far as he was concerned, he had the best job in the army. Not only was he a paratrooper, but now he was training others to become paratroopers. He could not have been happier with his work. It was a plum assignment and he was darn good at it. More then one soldier of B Company, 2/12 Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division which he was to join later when he went to Vietnam remembered him from their own airborne training days. He was the short fellow with the same positive attitude, stamina and vitality he presented on the field of athletics back in Spanish Fork. It seemed he was all lungs and legs: he could run forever. At least that was the perception of students he was leading on the ever so frequent runs required in jump school. Hard as nails and still feisty, he was held in high regard by his peers, contemporaries and his students. He cut a memorable figure as a professional Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) and Airborne Instructor.
Fern recalls visiting Marvin and his family in the summer of 1965 at Ft. Benning, GA. It was tough times for all at Ft. Benning in those days since the Army's 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) had just been formed, alerted and was preparing to deploy to Vietnam. Marvin remained on the sidelines of that deployment with duty continuing with the Airborne Training Committee. All watched as comrades feverishly finished training, took leave if they could and departed leaving families there or relocating them elsewhere.
In the fall of 1965, Marvin’s time came and he was alerted for overseas movement. He was to be assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division which was now located in the Central Highlands of Vietnam near the outskirts of a small town called An Khe. Brad as a 5 year old remembers accompanying his family to the departure point and being carried in Marvin's arms until the last moment before they separated. Marvin handed his 5 year old son Brad to his mother, telling him that he was the man of the family now and to take care of his mother and sister. How profoundly prophetic were these words. Marvin was then off to join his comrades and his rendezvous with destiny
Marvin reported into B Company before Christmas of 1965. That unit was battle hardened by then, having been involved in numerous combat operations since it arrived in September including the Battle of the Ia Drang. He arrived during the monsoon season which was most miserable. It rained all the time, foxholes filled with water as soon as they were dug and living conditions were not good at all. Marvin was assigned to the 1st Platoon of B Company, who called themselves the Yahoos Led by a very competent and aggressive platoon leader and combat experienced platoon sergeant, he assumed the position of fire team leader and assistant Squad Leader. He was immediately recognized by his associates as a very energetic NCO and quite professional. He settled in for his year tour of duty.
Christmas 1965 came and went with little activity on the part of B Company and January 1966 started out relatively quiet. Toward the end of the month however, the Division was alerted to major enemy activity along the coast, north east of the base camp at An Khe. Planning for deployment of combat forces to that area commenced and Operation Whitewing/Masher came into existence. B Company deployed to the vicinity of Bong Song airfield by C123 as part of that operation and waited near the airstrip for further orders. Orders came shortly upon arrival after another unit of the Division became decisively engaged and B Company was airlifted by helicopter to join the battle and rescue that unit after it had almost been overrun.
B Company found the friendly unit and assisted survivors. The enemy had disengaged and scattered so the mission then became one of search and destroy. Later that day, B Company made contact and a fierce battle ensued which was to continue on and off for the next week. The events of that day as concerns Sgt Lindley are documented in the Citation of his heroism which earned him the Silver Star. The following day, Sgt Lindley was killed.
And thus came an end to the life of a young man who, much like so many of the 57,000 plus servicemen who lost their lives in the Vietnam War, gave his all for his country while doing his duty as he knew it to be; a part of our National Treasure lost forever. Yet Marvin’s legacy lingers on and springs forth in spirit whenever one converses with his family members even now. Deeply patriotic and fiercely protective of the freedom we enjoy in this country, they remember their son, brother and dad with love and sadness but with the highest respect for his part in protecting what we hold so dear in this country and that is our freedom. This respect is also reflected in the faces and souls of those comrades in arms who now gather each year on Veterans Day at the Wall to honor their fallen, Sgt Marvin Lindley included.
Marvin’s name can be found on Panel 04E, line 124 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall.
God bless you Sgt Marvin Lindley. Rest in peace my Valiant Brother.