Richard Aaron McClain

Richard Aaron McClain was born in Ottumwa but grew up in Des Moines. McClain lived in a neighborhood near the state fairgrounds and he attended East High School. He joined the Marine Corps in January 1967 at the age of 18. That September LCPL McClain was sent to South Vietnam with the 1st Marine Division as a Field Artillery Fire Control Man. His unit was participating in Operation Mameluke Thrust when their position on Hill 52 was mortared by the enemy. LCPL McClain and 2 others were killed by fragmentation wounds to the head and body on May 22, 1968. The 19-year-old’s body was buried at the Berwick Cemetery in a suburb of Des Moines.