Ricardo C. Binns

Ricardo Courtney Binns (R.C.Binns) (25 December 1945 – 10 November 2018) was a corporal in the United States Marine Corps and a recipient of the Navy Cross for actions in the Battle of Hill 488 of the Vietnam War. Later in life he became an author. Using the name he was most commonly known by, R. C. Binns, he wrote "We Are Not Warmongers", and The Price of Glory: "Battle of Hill 488".

Biography

Binns was born in The Bronx, New York on 25 December 1945. In 1963, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. He was subsequently trained in an infantry specialty as an anti-tank assaultman, assigned the Military Occupational Specialty code of 0351. He was then assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune until he volunteered for duty in the Vietnam War. There, he served with a military police unit until assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines. He was reassigned to Company C of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion after volunteering for training as a reconnaissanceman and was awarded a meritorious promotion to lance corporal.

On the evening of 13 June 1966, Binns's platoon of 18, under the leadership of then-Staff Sergeant Jimmie E. Howard were dropped behind enemy lines atop Hill 488, known to locals as Nui Vu, near Chu Lai and Tam Kỳ, with a mission to observe enemy troop movements in the Hiệp Đức Valley, and call in artillery and airstrikes.