THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. You gave everything you had to give. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.

On the morning of July 11, 1969, paratroopers from the 506th Infantry began the task to take Hill 996 in the A Shau Valley from the North Vietnamese Army after the NVA had seized control of the area. The mission was mounted in an effort to thwart a summer offensive by the NVA. Before assaulting the hill, the paratroopers were told that there would be no artillery preparation or support, no gunship or Aerial Rocket Artillery support, and no tactical air support in the initial attack. The terrain on Hill 996 was very steep, mountainous, and heavily vegetated, causing problems with radio transmissions. The paratroopers moved out in a hard rain toward their objective. Two battalion RTO's were killed early in the assault, causing an early loss of radio communications which proved unexpected and devastating. One radio-telephone operator from Delta 1/506, SP4 George H. Fry, gave up his life in order to restore both the Company and Battalion radio nets. SP4 Fry was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. LTC Arnold C. Hayward took command of the battle and his headquarters group was with him and Delta Company's 1st Platoon when they were caught in a saddle on the hill. They were receiving heavy fire from the bunkers on the hill and to their flank while the NVA were also coming up behind their position. Hayward, his RTO, and a Forward Observer were wounded by a blast of AK-47 fire. During the battle there were many individual acts of heroism which blended into a total team effort to gain control over the situation. Medic PFC Larry Motley’s aid bag was found with 22 holes in it. PFC Claudie Fowler was cut down while attempting to pull a fallen comrade to safety. The paratroopers never gave up and they took the hill. Twenty paratroopers were lost in the battle for Hill 996. They included CPL Elbert J. Baker Jr., SGT Norman H. Bloomfield, PFC Mark L. Bruner, CPL Richard T. Corriveau, CPL Thomas P. Fenush, CPL Curtiss Fernhoff, PFC Claudie Fowler, SP4 George H. Fry (Silver Star), PFC Alan G. Geissinger, SP4 Joe R. Glassburn, LTC Arnold C. Hayward, PFC Bradley W. Klukas, PFC Larry K. Motley, CPL Marvin K. Richardson, PFC Michael F. Rogers, SSGT Byron D. Stewart, PFC George B. Tear, PFC Allan C. Thibou, 2LT Dan B. Yarbrough, and PFC Russell C. Yost. Another 26 men were wounded in the engagement. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and virtualwall.org]

Dear Cpl Richard Corriveau,,
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.

Dear CPL Richard Thomas Corriveau, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter