THE WALL OF FACES

Rest in peace with the warriors.

Albert is buried at St Raymond Cemetery, New York,NY. BSM ARCOM PH

SERGEANT



ALBERT D. CONTREROS JR





who served with





COMPANY " F "



LONG RANGE RECONNAISSANCE PATROL



58th INFANTRY PLATOON ( Scout Dog )



101st AIRBORNE DIVISION





" THE SCREAMING EAGLES "





was a posthumous recipient of the





DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS



PURPLE HEART



NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL



VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL



REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM CAMPAIGN SERVICE MEDAL





and was entitled to wear the





COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE



and



ARMY PARACHUTE WINGS











THE PROUD YOUNG VALOR THAT ROSE ABOVE THE MORTAL

AND THEN, AT LAST, WAS MORTAL AFTER ALL











YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN



NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE







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CITATION FOR POSTHUMOUS AWARD OF THE



DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS





The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross ( Posthumously ) to Albert D. Contreros, Jr., Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company F, 58th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). Sergeant Contreros' distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 20 November 1968, while leading a reconnaissance patrol southwest of Hue. Once inserted deep within enemy-infiltrated territory, Sergeant Contreros located a trail, apparently heavily-traveled, and established an ambush position. The following morning the team sprang the trap on an enemy squad, killing nine and capturing documents. Later, when the team commenced to move to the landing zone to be extracted, a concealed enemy force opened fire and wounded one American before the team could find cover. Sergeant Contreros immediately directed his men to return fire while he radioed for an ambulance helicopter. When gunships arrived over the conflict area, he pointed out enemy targets for them. At the same time, the medical helicopter had lowered a hoist rig through the jungle canopy and was pulling the casualty up when the communists renewed their assault. In an effort to protect the wounded man, Sergeant Contreros exposed himself to the hostile fusillade to direct the suppressive fires both of his men and the gunships. Suddenly, an enemy anti-personnel mine was detonated, inflicting fatal wounds on the heroic team leader. Sergeant Contreros' outstanding heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.







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REMEMBRANCE









20 OCTOBER 2005

4 MAY 2000

I still miss you always. At one point I started to reach out to those who knew you due to the death of our mother, but I couldn't handle listening to their stories of pain. I am now sorry for that, since I should have continued the pursuit of it all. While much a child when you passed, I remember your image and still miss you so.



Myrna E Contreras

An insight into some of the conditions that Albert Contreros, Michael Reiff, Terry Clifton, and Arthur Herringhausen experienced can be read in the nonfiction book "LRRP Team Leader" by John Burford (published in 1994 by Ballantine Books). We all owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to these men and the other members of our military who gave so much.