Memorial for Mark James
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photo taken from the top of Valentine's Ridge, Vietnam
by Ray Felle June 2003
by Ray Felle June 2003
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Background Material
Review contemporary encyclopedia articles on Vietnam and the US-Vietnam Conflict.
View a video lesson on Indochina today, the second half of which looks at Vietnam and is entitled The Power of Place: Geography for the 21st Century. (link to video is at the bottom of the page)
View a video lesson on Indochina today, the second half of which looks at Vietnam and is entitled The Power of Place: Geography for the 21st Century. (link to video is at the bottom of the page)
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L to R: Lt. Wszolek, Lcpl. James, Sgt. Roane
"Here is a picture of Lcpl. Mark James taken shortly before Valentine's Ridge. It was given to [me] by a Corpsman that was in 3rd platoon that day. He died several years ago from vascular disease. They may have been give[n] to him by Don Carter who was the radioman for 3rd platoon." - Ray Felle
"Here is a picture of Lcpl. Mark James taken shortly before Valentine's Ridge. It was given to [me] by a Corpsman that was in 3rd platoon that day. He died several years ago from vascular disease. They may have been give[n] to him by Don Carter who was the radioman for 3rd platoon." - Ray Felle
Casualty Record for Mark Everett James
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Shaded relief map of I Corps theater section
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Shaded relief map of I Corps theater section
The battle report above writes in part:
"Valentine's Ridge...is a small 200 meter hill approximately one mile west of Ca Lu combat base and eight miles east of the Khe Sanh combat base. The coordinate is XD990445 to XD978455 running north and south and terminating at the Quang Tri River."
"Valentine's Ridge...is a small 200 meter hill approximately one mile west of Ca Lu combat base and eight miles east of the Khe Sanh combat base. The coordinate is XD990445 to XD978455 running north and south and terminating at the Quang Tri River."
A locator map for Khe Sanh, with Ca Lu also marked, is shown above. You can place this map in the context of all Vietnam via this shaded relief map.
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Valentine's Ridge:
Comparison of Wartime Photo and Google Earth Version
 "This photo is from a helicopter which is over Ca Lu (the sharp [road] bend in the topo map) looking west to Khe Sanh. Middle Right is OP Texas (has trail leading to it) where 3rd platoon spent their time. VR, running N and S, is almost in the center of this image and trails off to the [Quang Tri] river below."
- Ray Felle |
 Google Earth rendering of Valentine's Ridge and environs from downriver, similar to view at left but from over a mile up, looking down. Ray's three MGRS coordinates (SE, VR, NW) as converted shown in red. Route of Highway 9 roughly shown as yellow line. (White areas represent cloud cover.) |