Builder 3rd Class George Robert DeShurley USN
Air Medal w/ Oak Leaf Clusters
George Robert DeShurley was born 29 November 1943 in El Segundo CA to Harold and Wanda DeShurley where his father was working for the US Navy. Following the end of the war the family moved back to Roswell NM where his father began DeShurley Construction Company. Raised in Roswell he graduated from Roswell HS in 1962 and attended NMSU from fall 1963 to spring 1966 studying Engineering Technology. In October 1967 George deployed to Vietnam as a member of, Naval Mobile Construct Battalion 9, 3rd Naval Construction Brigade (Seabees). Once in country he was part of a battalion detachment, Detachment ECHO, of 180 men that began developing a new quarry and a 250-man cantonment near Phu Loc, 45 miles north of Danang. The detachment arrived on January 28, 1968, only two days before the massive Tet Offensive began. Despite problems in getting supplies over enemy-controlled roads, twenty-eight days of continuous rain, and enemy mortar and recoilless rifle attacks by night and day, the facility was in operation within ten weeks after the detachment's arrival. In an action that was typical of the "fighter/builders" of the Navy Seabees deployed in Vietnam, 6 Seabees of MCB-9's Detail Echo gave their lives on 31 March in a valiant effort which saved the lives of many fellow Seabees and Marine personnel.
When their camp came under heavy mortar and recoilless rifle attack, the Seabees immediately manned an 81mm mortar position and commenced and maintained counter fire despite the barrage of enemy shells landing near their position. The effective return fire destroyed at least two enemy gun positions and broke the attack. During a second attack, five hours later, the Seabees again manned their mortar position and even though they realized the enemy had bracketed their position with mortars, stood their ground and, acting with concern for the entire camp, continued to return fire until the enemy scored two direct hits on their position. The Seabees, who gave their lives in defense of the camp, were instrumental in repelling the attack, the results of which would have been much more severe had the mortar crew abandoned their position, an action they would have been justified.[1] Those killed in action were BUL3 George R. DeShurley, the mortar crew leader, and four members of his crew. It was the single largest loss of life among the Seabees in the entire Vietnam War. On April 6, 1968, the quarry cantonment was dedicated as Camp DeShurley in his honor. His body was returned to Roswell where today he lies in the South Park cemetery. He was survived by his wife and two children, a son and daughter. His son, George R DeShurley II graduated from NMSU in 1992.