Valarian Lawrence Finley

Vietnam
-
Fallen

Mandaree, ND


County:
McKenzie

Date of Loss:

Branch of Service:
Marines

Rank:
Lance Corporal

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent:
Company K

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:
3rd Battalion

Regiment / Group / Brigade:
5th Marine Regiment

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:
1st Marine Division
Listed on/in the:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Washington D.C.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Profile

Circumstances:

During the month of May the Battalion was participating in combat operations in Quang Nam Province. Towards the end of the month during Operation PIPESTONE CANYON Company K was in a night defensive position the vicinity of Lang Dong (1) on Goi Noi Island when several grenades and a burst of AK-47 fire hit the Marines. Four men were wounded and LCpl Finley was killed by the hostile automatic weapons fire.

Biography:

Valarian was the son of Evan Finley Sr. and Louise (Blackhawk) Finley, he is survived by sisters Bonita Fimbres and Mary Finley, brothers Evan Jr.; Robert, Richard, Gerald and Valentine Findley of Mandaree North Dakota.

Valarian enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on May 7, 1968, in Fargo ND and arrived in Vietnam on November 21, 1968, where he was assigned to and served with Company K, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st MARDIV (Rein) FMF.
 

He is buried in Saint Anthony's Cemetery - Mandaree, ND.