SP4 OWEN EDWARD MEBUST
527th Military Police Company
716th Military Police Battalion
89th Military Police Group
18th Military Police Brigade 

Age 20 - From Manhattan Beach, California
Killed in action during the 1968 Tet Offensive in Saigon (Gia Dinh Province, South Viet Nam) on January 31, 1968



INFORMATION FROM VIETNAM VETERANS
MEMORIAL FUND (www.vvmf.org)


OWEN EDWARD MEBUST
is honored on Panel 36E, Row 24 of
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Full Name: OWEN EDWARD MEBUST
Wall Name: OWEN E MEBUST
Date of Birth: 5/14/1947
Date of Casualty: 1/31/1968
Home of Record: MANHATTAN BEACH
State: CA
Branch of Service: ARMY
Rank: SP4
Casualty Country: SOUTH VIETNAM
Casualty Province: GIA DINH



EXCERPT FROM "716th MILITARY POLICE
BATTALION - HISTORY PAGE"

(http://www.campbell.army.mil/716mp/716history.htm)

The most famous action during the TET offensive occurred at the U.S. Embassy where SPC Charles Daniel and PFC William Sebast of the 527th Military Police Company were augmenting the marine security detail. At 0247 hours, Viet Cong sappers blew a hole in the embassy compound’s perimeter wall and attacked through the breach. SPC Daniel and PFC Sebast radioed for help and engaged the attacking Viet Cong. They were able to kill the first two attacking sappers before being shot down. Two MPs who responded to the calls for help, SGT Jonnie Thomas and SPC Owen Mebust, were ambushed and killed as they approached the embassy compound.

The actions of these Military Police soldiers bought enough time for the marine guards to seal the doors to the embassy building. The Viet Cong attempted to blow the doors off the embassy building with rockets, but failed. Consequently, the Viet Cong were never able to enter the embassy building. As both Military Police and marine reaction forces responded to the embassy, a stalemate ensued. Military Police surrounded the compound and exchanged fire with the guerillas on the grounds, but could not enter the compound due to the volume of fire and uncertainty as to the enemy’s disposition. The Viet Cong could not enter the embassy building and could not exit the compound. Additionally, an infantry reaction force that attempted to land by helicopter on the roof of the embassy was repulsed by enemy fire.



EXCERPT FROM "TET OFFENSIVE OF 1968"
(http://www.geocities.com/militarypoliceofvietnam/Tet.html)

The following chronological account is partially taken from the Staff Duty Log of the 716th MP Battalion:

2:45 a.m. Mortar fire drops into city. Muoi drives by again. This time he shouts, "Tien" (forward)! A Peugeot truck and a taxicab drive west on Thong Nhut Boulevard along the south wall of the four acre compound and stop. The sappers begin unloading weapons and equipment as others step out from the shadows. 
 
Two military police, Specialist 4 Charles L. Daniel, 23, of Durham, NC, and Private First Class William E. Sebast, 20, of Albany, NY., both from Company C, 716th MP Battalion, are at the east side entrance on Mac Dinh Chi. 
 
2:46 a.m. At the Embassy rear fence Commandos appear in civvies and black pajamas, with red armbands. Carrying new AK-47s, three B-40 rockets and explosives, they climb into the compound.

 2:47 a.m. Part of the commando team attacks the side gate. SPC Daniel and PFC Sebast close and secure the gate and radio "Signal 300" (enemy attack). The VC then blast a hole in the ten-foot wall, at the front of the Embassy, with a 3.5 inch rocket (B-40). 
 
Daniel radios, "They're coming in! They're coming in! Help me! Help me!" They manage to kill two Viet Cong leaders before they are gunned down on the Embassy grounds.

Nguyen Thai Ba, a night chauffeur, attempts to stop the VC and is shot down. The lead element of VC blows the lock off the side gate and the telephone lines are cut. 
 
MP Sergeant Jonnie B. Thomas, 24, of Detroit, MI., and Specialist Owen E. Mebust, 20, of Lynwood, CA., of the 716th MP Battalion respond to Daniel's call for assistance and drive east on Thong Nhut Boulevard.  As they reach the main entrance they are ambushed and killed by automatic rifle fire. Other military police and US Marines are now also responding.



CASUALTY RECORD FOR OWEN EDWARD MEBUST
FROM WWW.NO-QUARTER.ORG

(http://www.no-quarter.org/gui/detail.php?ID=34558)

GENERAL/PERSONAL
Home: Manhattan Beach, California
Birth Date: 1947-05-14
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Married/Single: Single
Religion: Lutheran & Missouri Synod
Citizen: Yes

MILITARY
Service: Army
Rank: SP4
Serial Number: 56697629
Component: Selective Service
Grade: E4
MOS: 95B20
Length of Service: 01
Start of Tour: 1967-09-21

CASUALTY
Casualty Date: 1968-01-31
Casualty Type: Hostile, Died Missing
Reason: Gun, Small Arms Fire
Air or Ground: Ground Casualty
Country: South Vietnam
Province: Gia Dinh
Posthumous Promotion: No change
Body Recovered: Body recovered
Location on The Wall: Panel 36E - Row 024
RefNo: 10532
Processed Date: 6802



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