THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Waycross (March 24 – 25, 1966) was a 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 5th Division search and destroy operation northwest of Phu Loi in Binh Duong Province, RVN. The objective of Waycross was to locate and destroy the Viet Cong (VC) forces which raided the ARVN 5th Division Headquarters elements at Phu Cuong, the capital of Binh Duong Province, and recover captured equipment. Among the items lost was an ARVN M41 Walker Bulldog tank believed captured by the VC during the March 23rd assault on the compound. On the first day of Waycross, contact was established with VC in the Phu Cuong area. During a three-and-one-half-hour firefight, U.S. forces engaged in heavy fighting, sustaining 14 killed and 25 wounded. The lost personnel included (from A-1/26) PFC Al J. Chattin, PFC James M. Cornett, SGT James A. Doke, SGT Carl H. Joyner, PFC Albert M. Keen Jr., SGT Allen G. Lane, SGT Robert L. Mack, PFC Leonard D. May, SGT Jesus A. Munoz, PFC Clyde E. Murr, PFC George T. Reynolds (medically evacuated to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, died of wounds 03/27/1966), PFC Michael D. Schatzley, PFC Robert E. Urbanovsky, and PFC General White. Enemy losses were unknown. The missing tank was not immediately recovered. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and cia.gov/readingroom]

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed...
We feel lucky to have seen it.

PFC James M Cornett was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for exemplary courage under fire. He served as an Infantryman and was assigned to A Co, 1st Bn, 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Div.
See http://www.virtualwall.org/dc/CornettJM01a.htm

Dear PFC James Cornett,
Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. 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.

You’ve inspired so much without even having the chance to meet you thanks for the blessing of a great father to me I’m sure he’s a lot like you