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Con Thien ("Hill of Angels"), officially known as Hill 158, was a Marine outpost located just south of the Demilitarized Zone. During the first three years of US involvement the DMZ was off-limits to US forces but was used feely by the North Vietnamese Army. One NVA use was as a sheltered location for heavy artillery - and one favorite target for that artillery was the outpost at Con Thien. On 31 July 1966 enemy artillery fire resulted in six dead Marines: C Co, 3rd Antitank Bn: Cpl Herman J. Baer, Hopkins, MN H&S Co, 3rd Bn, 9th Marines: Cpl Paul G. Giroir, New Orleans, LA LCpl Thomas H. Benton, Sonora, CA Pfc David A. Krisan, Chicago, IL LCpl Bruce E. Sagerian, Worcester, MA M Co, 3rd Bn, 9th Marines: Pfc Leon L. Lochthowe, Minot, ND
Corporal Baer was awarded the Purple Heart.