Age
47 - From Augusta, Georgia
Killed in action June 6, 1968 - Bien Hoa, South Viet Nam
During the hot
afternoon of Thursday, 6 June 1968, SFC Frank Alloysisu Condon, age 47,
of Augusta, Georgia, and SP/4 Lewis Randolph Lovell, Jr., age 21, of
Martinsville, Virginia, both of C Company, were conducting a motorized
jeep patrol along Highway 317.
SP/4 Lovell the driver, proceeded along Highway 317 to the vicinity of
Long Binh Post Gate #11, and turned right onto Highway QL15 where he
left the paved roadway and traveled east out along a dirt trail in an
area referred to as "The Finger of Land", located in the Battalion
Tactical Area of Responsibility.
The trail, approximately 400 yards long, ran east and west parallel to
the southern perimeter of the post and is approximately 300 yards south
of the perimeter. The area was classified as a "free fire zone".
Approximately half way down the trail the jeep ran over a large
pressure detonated Viet Cong land mine, believed to have been made from
a 105 howitzer round.
Both men died instantly from the powerful explosion. Their remains and
those of the jeep were recovered by a C Company Reaction Force rushed
to the area.
In June 1968 Major
General Karl W. Gustafson, The Provost Marshal General, presented to
Mrs. Cristel D. Condon of Augusta, Georgia, a Purple Heart Medal
awarded posthumously to her husband, SFC Condon
The presentation was made during ceremonies at Fort Gordon, Georgia.
Accompanying Mrs. Condon was her son, PVT Frank P. Condon.
SFC Condon had been a military policeman for 23 of his 27 years of
service.