263 Squadron
Vietnam, Gulf War and Global War on Terrorism
| | Honor Courage Commitment | |
Activated 16 June 1952 at Cherry Point, NC, as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 263 (HMR-263)
Redesignated 1 February 1962 as Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263 (HMM-263)
Redesignated 3 March 2006 as Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (VMM-263)
Nicknames
Thunder Eagles, Blue Eagles, Gophers, Thunder Chickens
ID Code
IL 1952-56; EG 1956-Present
Aircraft
CH-19, OH-43, UH-34, CH-46 and MV-22
263 Squadron had one of only two Vietnam Marine Aviation Medal of Honor Recipients. Raymond M. Clausen Jr. was awarded the Medal of Honor for valor on 31 January 1970 while serving with HMM-263.
Unit Awards
Presidential Unit Citation with two Bronze Stars
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Navy Unit Commendation with one Silver Star and Bronze Star
Meritorious Unit Commendation with four Bronze Stars
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with two Bronze Stars
National Defense Service Medal with two Bronze Stars
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with two Silver Stars and one Bronze Star
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Crewmembers and Passengers KIA
HMC Gerald Angelly
Cpl Glenn Austin
1stLt Jon Baker
Maj Leroy Blankenship
LCpl Edward Bolan
Sgt John Carney
1stLt Frank Carroll
Captain Jefferson Chesnutt
LCpl James Childers
LCpl Richard Dallas
Sgt Robert Donnell II
Cpl Gaylen Gallion
Capt Albert Gates Jr.
HM3 Joseph Godwin
LCpl Michael Gukich
Major Daniel Haworth
LCpl Arthur Henderson
Capt Robert Huie Jr.
Cpl Michael James
1stLt Kay Kimura
Cpl Cliff Moyer
1stLt Orville Rogers Jr.
LCpl Theodore Rolstad
Sgt Andrew Smith
1stLt James Stolz Jr.
Maj Bernard Terhorst
Cpl Philip Vanasse
1stLt John Wasko
Topics and series.
this page online
Location. 38° 32.49′ N, 77° 20.561′ W. Memorial is in Triangle, Virginia, in Prince William County. It can be reached from Richmond Highway (U.S. 1) 0.1 miles south of Joplin Road (Virginia Route 619), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Quantico VA 22134, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in the Washington Metropolitan Area, in Northern Virginia, and in the Piedmont. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: November Company (here, next to this marker); Hotel Company, The Basic School (here, next to this marker); "Freedoms Flying Memorial" (here, next to this marker); Bravo Company (here, next to this marker); Marine Spouses and Children Memorial (here, next to this marker); CO - Major John Antonelli (here, next to this marker); The Basic School (here, next to this marker); Company H (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Triangle.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 14, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 14, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 881 times since then and 36 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on March 14, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
