THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from Robert Blandi is touching. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever....

Just been thinking of my old friend Miguel “Mike” Contreras. I met Mike approx. in 1958 at St. Edwards Church playground (present day church parking lot). Mike was a friend from day one, always happy with a smile and good attitude! You could count on Mike to watch your back and be there. In high school, Mike worked at Disneyland with his father, Mr. Contreras. The Contreras family were customers at my parents grocery store. Always loyal and paid there charge bills on time. Mikes brother Joe worked at the grocery store, (Blandi’s Food Market), so we always has a good laugh going behind the counters. I can only say that Mike was a true friend with loyalty not only to his local friends, but to all that knew him. There’s no doubt that while serving in Vietnam, Mike made the words USMC standout and again loyalty was a true part of Mikes character. , Never forgotten. Always there Thanks Mikes Robert Blandi.

Thank you Marine for serving! He was born the month before me, we grew up very close to each other in Corona and both graduated Corona High School in 1964.

LCPL Miguel Z. Contreras was a rifleman serving with Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. His unit was based at Hill 55 southwest of Da Nang in Quang Nam Province, RVN. On the afternoon of July 20, 1967, LCPL Contreras’ squad was patrolling in an area southwest of Que Son, about three miles from Hill 55. They swept through a hamlet where they opened fire on two Viet Cong carrying combat gear, capturing one of them. The squad’s patrol route showed that they were to cross 150 yards of dry rice paddy, however, they observed people ahead of them running into the tree line, so they changed course and cut around the paddy to avoid an ambush. As the point man rounded a bend in the trail, he saw a North Vietnamese Army soldier garbed in black with a black beret. When he called for the enemy to halt, an NVA ambush from 25 feet away opened fire on Marine squad. In the initial volley of fire, Contreras was fatally wounded. Another Marine grabbed Contreras by the shirt and dragged him into some bushed as the rest of the squad dove for cover. The squad leader pulled his machine gun team and a rifleman back to a concrete house while he and his radioman moved to a position behind a dike in an attempt to envelope the enemy. However, the plan didn’t work as the volume of fire was too heavy and coming from too many sides. After about twenty minutes, the volume of fire slackened, and the NVA began to expose themselves. Two were cut down by the Marine who pulled Contreras from the field. During the engagement, the squad requested support, and at the sound of three Marine tanks accompanied by the rest of Delta Company, the NVA broke contact and fled. A total of three enemy were killed with two probable killed and two detainees; American losses were one killed (Contreras), and three wounded. They were medically evacuated at 6:40 PM. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, Command Chronology, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, July 1967; and “NVA Forced to Spring Ambush Prematurely: 3 Killed by Patrol.” Sea Tiger (weekly newspaper published by the III Marine Amphibious Force), August 11, 1967; also, information provided by Noel H. Corliss (December 2019)]

Dear Lcpl Miguel Contreras,
Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. It is 2018, Happy New Year. It is so important for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.