Lieutenant Colonel Victor Ohanesian, A Marine's Story
Lieutenant Colonel Victor Ohanesian, A Marine's Story
Lieutenant Colonel Victor Ohanesian was born on September 16, 1926, in New York City, New York.
He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1944 during World War II. Demonstrating strong leadership potential early in his service, he completed officer training at Quantico and began a distinguished career spanning three major conflicts of the twentieth century.
Throughout his service, Lieutenant Colonel Ohanesian held command posts with the 81st Rifle Company, the 1st Marine Regiment, and the 8th Marine Regiment. He served during both World War II and the Korean War, gaining hard-earned experience in the demanding realities of Marine infantry leadership. By the time he deployed to Vietnam, he was a seasoned officer entrusted with the lives of young Marines entering another complex and dangerous conflict.
In early 1967, Lieutenant Colonel Ohanesian was serving with the 3rd Marine Regiment in Vietnam. On February 28, 1967, at a small outpost near Camp Carroll, his unit came under intense enemy attack. The position became increasingly untenable under heavy fire.
Recognizing the tactical situation, Lieutenant Colonel Ohanesian ordered a withdrawal to save his Marines' lives. During the evacuation, he personally assisted in carrying wounded men from the exposed position. While helping remove the last of the injured, he was struck by enemy mortar fire.
Because of the severity of the attack and the intensity of the firefight, immediate evacuation was impossible. Lieutenant Colonel Victor Ohanesian died in the early morning hours of March 1, 1967.
He was forty years old.
Lieutenant Colonel Victor Ohanesian rests at Arlington National Cemetery, a fitting place for a Marine who served his nation across three wars and who, in his final moments, chose once again to put his Marines before himself.
Some officers command from behind.
Others lead from the front and stay there.
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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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