Medford Corner Dedicated to Late Vietnam Veteran

Photo: Local politicians and members of the Mottola family at the newly dedicated PFC Vincent A. Mottola Square at the corner of Medford and Main streets.

Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn dedicated the corner of Medford and Main streets Sunday as PFC Vincent A. Mottola Square. Mottola, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, was killed in action in 1968 at the age of 18.

McGlynn was joined by local politicians and members of the Mottola family, including Mottola’s brother Lenny, a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War who made remarks on behalf of the family. The Office of Veterans Services, U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard and Medford’s Alumni Band also took part in the ceremony.

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PFC Mottola lived on Main Street in South Medford and as the Vietnam War began to escalate, Vincent decided to leave Medford High School and enlist in the Marines. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 3rd Marine Division.

Vincent was an anti-tank assault man who was assigned to Vietnam in late 1967. He was wounded in January of 1968 and received the Purple Heart.

In February of 1968, PFC Mottola was sent to Khe Sanh in the Quang Tri Province of Vietnam. The region was under intense enemy fire for months. The 6,000 Marines held their ground against 20,000 enemy forces, but on Feb. 23, 1968, PFC Mottola’s bunker took a direct hit and he made the supreme sacrifice. He was only 18 years old.

PFC Mottola was awarded the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Military Merit Medal, the Gallantry Cross with Palms Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation and the Bronze Star. Vincent’s unit has been remembered in both a PBS documentary entitled, “Bravo: Common Men, Uncommon Valor,” and in a book by Ray Williams Stubbe entitled,”Battalion of Kings.”