Valley Forge in Chester County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
US Marine Circle of Trees
Members of Alpha Company, 7th Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, FMF
13 Marines from Alpha Co. 7th Engineer Bn. 1st MarDiv, FMF,
perished while being refamiliarized with locating and
disarming the M16 anti-personnel land mine, better known as
"The Bouncing Betty", when the demonstration mine was
accidentally detonated. The memorial, "US Marine Circle of Trees",
was originally dedicated in memory of the 13 Marines,
03-30-1968 and rededicated 03-27-2021
Thomas Bekiempis • Stanley Davidheiser Jr. • Larry Dye
Otis Ellis • Anthony Hawkins • Daniel Laird • Glenn McCarty
Eugene Payne III • Ronald Porter • Glenn Shafer • Don Shockley
Howard Stevens • Verrell Stiles
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, Vietnam.
Location. 40° 6.242′ N, 75° 28.447′ W. Marker is in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, in Chester County. Marker and tree circle are on the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge campus. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1601 Valley Forge Road, Phoenixville PA 19460, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. U.S. Marine Circle of Trees (a few steps from this marker); The 3rd Armored "Spearhead" Division (within shouting distance of this marker); Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (within shouting distance of this marker); First Armored Division (within shouting distance of this marker); Southeast Asia KIA/MIA/POW Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); The Freedom Tree (within shouting distance of this marker); Texas Medal of Honor Recipients (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Valley Forge.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 78 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 30, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.