THE WALL OF FACES

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

On the remembrance of your 73rd birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

The Combined Reconnaissance and Intelligence Platoon (CRIP) was an intelligence-gathering unit of U.S. infantrymen from the 25th Infantry Division working with Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) troops. These units were assigned to each Brigade Headquarters and operated directly in support of their parent brigades. The teams produced valuable information about enemy activities. On June 29, 1969, a CRIP team from the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry "Wolfhounds," was bivouacked at an ARVN camp known as Checkpoint 28 in Binh Duong Province. Sometime during the night an explosion occurred in the bunker where the Americans were sleeping. Six CRIP member were killed by the blast and a seventh survived with burns after he was pulled from the burning structure. The lost U.S. personnel included SP4 Courtney J. Cosgrove, SGT Charles F. Clendenin, SP5 Donald Paul Davies, SP4 Wayne H. Emerson, SP4 Herbert J. Lottes, and CPL Ernest M. Staines. A Cambodian youth who hung around the Americans and was considered their “mascot” was also killed. It was surmised by other CRIP members that the incident was an “inside job,” possibly from a satchel charge. An inquiry was conducted, and a panel of non-combat arms U.S. officers ruled that the blast occurred when lightning caused munitions (Claymore mines) to detonate. This pronouncement was made despite there being no rain reported the night the explosion took place. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Joseph Clock (December 2019)]

Specialist Four Courtney James Cosgrove, Served with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.