Marine Rifleman - Forty-Three Years in the Corps

Intrigued by the mystique and challenge of the Marine Corps, eighteen-year-old Wesley Fox enlisted in the summer of 1950, shortly after the outbreak of the Korean War. He saw action with the First Marine Division and was wounded in 1951. After Korea, Fox advanced steadily in the enlisted ranks, and received an appointment as second lieutenant early in the Vietnam War. He was twice wounded in a vicious battle during Operation Dewey Canyon. "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty," Fox received the Medal of Honor. Readers interested in U.S. military history, the Marine Corps, and inspiring tales of personal achievement will enjoy reading about this extraordinary career."Taking my second and last grenade, I straightened the pin and pulled the ring. Everything worked. Releasing the spoon that activated the fuse, I placed the grenade just outside my hole. Then I compressed myself as well as I could in that little hole and waited for the explosion...Enemy soldiers were talking all around me...An instant before I sprang, the grenade exploded. The timing could not have been better. Full advantage of the shock effect of that explosive force was mine. I came out of my hole so closely behind the blast that I was part of it...I continued toward the higher knoll on the right portion of our squad position...At that moment a Chinese concussion grenade hit me in the chest, bounced off, and exploded while airborne. It exploded within arm's length, and except for temporary hearing and night-vision loss, I was not scratched! I felt invincible...".

Col. Wesley L. Fox, USMC (Ret.), retired from the Marine Corps in 1993 after forty-three years of distinguished service. In addition to the Medal of Honor, he received two awards of the Legion of Merit, a Bronze Star with Combat V, four awards of the Purple Heart, and numerous commendations. From 1993 until his retirement in 2001, Fox served as deputy commandant of cadets at Virginia Tech. He lives in Blacksburg, Virginia.