War stories should always be written to remember the real heroes that we all must remember. One of those real Heroes was Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat, USMC.

I never met Lance Corporal Wheat, but, had I not been taken out of Action with wounds in August of 1966, I would have stood besides him several months later, as he joined with my Platoon in Vietnam in March of 1966.

These are not my words that I place upon this document about Roy Wheat, but some unknown author's words of praise for him. In this case I am nothing more than a messenger of the story of one of my fellow Kilo Company members of the 3rd Battalion, Seventh Marines. Next to what this Marine did, I am nothing more than a spear carrier, third to the right, and this man is what the Marines, and the Brotherhood of Marines, are all about.

It is the story of a man that when faced with a difficult situation, he gave his life to protect his Brothers in combat from any harm.

Lance Corporal Wheat was not only a Brave Marine, he is the United States of America and all its ideals rolled up into one citizen!

My words end here, and another's begin.

Roy Mitchell Wheat (July 24, 1947–August 11, 1967) was a United States Marine awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in August 1967.

Roy Wheat was born on July 24, 1947, in Moselle, Mississippi. He attended public schools in Ellisville, Mississippi, leaving high school in 1965, after two years.

In September 1966, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at Jackson Mississippi. Wheat then reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. He underwent recruit training with the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, after which he completed special infantry training with the 1st Infantry Training Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Upon completion of infantry training, he was promoted to private first class in February 1967.

Private First Class Wheat arrived in Vietnam in March 1967, and was assigned duty as a Rifleman with 1st Platoon, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1St Marine Division.

While with his unit he participated in numerous combat operations, including Operation DeSoto, Duc Pho District, Quang Ngai Province; and Operations Webster, Arizona, Butler and Gem in Quang Nam Province. He was promoted to lance corporal in June 1967.

While assigned, with two other Marines, the mission of providing security for a Navy Construction Battalion (Seabee) crane and crew operating along Liberty Road in the vicinity of Dien Ban District, Quang Nam Province on 11 August, 1967, LCpl Wheat was killed by multiple shrapnel wounds received when he unintentionally triggered a well concealed antipersonnel mine.

After warning his fellow Marines when he unintentionally triggered the concealed anti-personnel mine, Wheat hurled himself upon the mine, absorbing the impact of the explosion with his own body.

His medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Purple Heart with one Gold Star, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Vietnamese Military Merit Medal, the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

In honor of Lance Sorporal Wheat's heroic achievement in the giving of his life to protect others, in 2003, the U.S. Navy named its newest prepositioning ship, the USNS Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat, in honor of Roy Wheat.

The US Post Office at Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is named after him.

While, should anyone wish to pay your respects to Roy M Wheat, Roy M. Wheat's name can be found on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial on Panel 24E, Row 101.

Hand Salute, Lance Corporal Wheat! Rest in peace Marine.