Havre's Pfc. Mark Hinkle being honored at veterans memorial softball classic

A highly decorated U.S. Army private who died serving his country in Viet Nam is one of the service members being honored this weekend at the 10th Annual Veterans Memorial Softball Classic in Belgrade.

Havre's Pfc. Mark Hinkle, who died of wounds sustained in combat in 1965, is the soldier the Army team is playing in honor of this year.

This is the 10th year for the classic, which invites the state's best high school softball players to come together to showcase their talents while honoring veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

The Marine team is playing in honor of Corp. Raleigh Smith of Troy, while the Air Force team is honoring 2nd Lt. Arne Bergum of Hysham, the Navy team is honoring Fireman Johnnie Bowne Westervelt of Big Timber and the Coast Guard team is honoring Signalman 1st Class Douglas Mujnro of Cle Elum, Washington.

This year's tournament features three Havre High School Blue Ponies, with Jersi Morse, Camille Keeley and Elle Verploegen all selected to play in the all-star tournament.

Hinkle died just months after arriving in Viet Nam when he single-handedly stormed an entrenched position attacking his squad.

A 1965 Havre Daily News article reported that he is believed to be the first Hill County soldier killed in the Viet Nam conflict.

He was awarded The Silver Star, The Purple Heart, The Gallantry Cross with Palm and the Military Merit Medal.

The article said he was born May 28, 1945, in Great Falls and grew up in Havre, attending school here and working at jobs including at The Havre Livestock Circle.

He enlisted in 1965 when he was 18, taking basic training at Fort Ord, California, then serving at Fort Riley, Kansas, before being overseas.

His sister-in-law, Linda Hinkle, said his platoon was sent to Saigon June 25, 1965.

She said he was serving as an infantryman in a search and destroy mission when he was killed Nov. 3, 1965.

The Havre Daily News article said he was part of a well-known Army Ranger outfit in the Company C 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry.

In the proclamation announcing the award of The Silver Star to Hinkle, the Army said his platoon suddenly came under intense grenade and small-arms fire from a reinforced Viet Cong platoon. While the flank of one squad was pinned down, Hinkle's squad maneuvered to engage the force and relieve pressure on the suppressed flank.

The award proclamation said that, because the density of the jungle made it almost impossible to determine the exact location of the Viet Cong, Hinkle, "with complete disregard for his own personal safety, rushed forward alone firing his weapon and drew the Viet Cong fire away from his comrades."

His action not only drew the fire, but allowed Hinkle to penetrate the Viet Cong concealed position, the statement said. He fired until he was out of ammunition, inflicting heavy casualties on the hostile force and killing an estimated five before he was mortally wounded.

His actions allowed the remainder of his platoon to advance and destroy the hostile force, the statement said.

"Private First Class Hinkle's unimpeachable valor in close combat against superior hostile forces were in keeping with the highest tradition of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit and The United States Army," the proclamation said.

A letter from Hinkle's company commander in Viet Nam, Capt. Robert O. Canady, to his mother in Havre said he considered Hinkle one of the finest young men he ever had in his command, and that his death came as a real shock to all who knew him and his loss would be felt keenly.

"There is no doubt that his unselfish act of heroism saved many of his comrade's lives," Canady wrote.