Specialist George Gregorio Luis, A Soldier's Story
Specialist George Gregorio Luis, A Soldier's Story
Specialist George Gregorio Luis was born on May 9, 1945, in Pahoa, Hawaii. Raised in the islands, he came of age during a period when American involvement in Southeast Asia was intensifying.
After enlisting in the United States Army, Specialist Luis was assigned as a rifleman with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, one of the first U.S. Army combat units deployed to Vietnam. Known for its rapid deployment capability and aggressive operational posture, the 173rd Airborne played a key role in early ground operations.
In 1965, Specialist Luis deployed to Vietnam during the early and escalating phase of the war. He operated in Binh Duong Province, a region northwest of Saigon that included the heavily contested “Iron Triangle.” The Iron Triangle was a dense network of jungle, tunnels, and fortified enemy positions, long used as a stronghold by Viet Cong forces. Patrols in the region were dangerous and often unpredictable, marked by ambushes and sudden firefights.
On October 22, 1965, while on patrol in Binh Duong Province, Specialist George Gregorio Luis was killed in action during a small-arms engagement with enemy forces.
He was twenty years old.
Specialist Luis rests at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery in Hilo, Hawaii, returning home to the islands from which he began his journey. His service reflects the commitment of young Americans who answered the call during the earliest and most uncertain days of the Vietnam War.
Some served far from home. All belonged to it.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
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