On that day the retired second lieutenant and a platoon of 32 Marines successfully warded off a regiment of nearly 1,000 North Vietnamese soldiers.
For his heroism that day nearly 40 years ago McGinty, 64, was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1968, the highest honor awarded for valor in action against any enemy force.
An event honoring the 36 South Carolina residents who have been awarded the Medal of Honor was held Thursday night at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
Of the 36 medal recipients, only six are alive today.
Thursday's event included a proclamation from Gov. Mark Sanford and the unveiling of a commemorative book by state historian Walter Edgar on the state's Medal of Honor recipients.
"These soldiers have been honored on the battlefield or in private ceremonies, but we wanted to recognize and thank them as a state for exceptional service," said Maj. General Eli Wishart, commander of the S.C. State Guard.
McGinty, who now lives in San Diego, said he was honored by the celebration.
But the real honor goes to the small platoon under his command that didn't falter in the line of duty, he said.
"We fought for the better part of four hours and we stopped (the enemy) dead in their tracks," McGinty said. "At the time I was in awe of what those kids were doing."
Paul Geiss, a retired staff sergeant who was part of McGinty's platoon, said he would never forget his leader's bravery.
"He's the reason I'm here today," Geiss said from his North Myrtle Beach home Wednesday night.
On that 1966 morning the 32-man platoon was providing rear security to protect the withdrawal of a battalion from a spot that had come under heavy attack, the two men recall.
While en route McGinty's platoon came under heavy fire.
With complete disregard for his own safety McGinty charged through intense automatic weapons and mortar fire and reloaded ammunition magazines and weapons for 20 wounded men in his platoon.
When the enemy tried to out-flank his position, he killed five of them at point-blank range with his pistol.
"We set up a line on this knoll ... there were so many of them you didn't have to aim, they looked like they were ants coming down a hill," Geiss said. "I really didn't think I'd get out of there alive. I really didn't."
Geiss said that he has a special bond with McGinty now and it will last until the day they die.
"We absolutely owe our lives to (McGinty), there's no doubt about that," he said.