THE WALL OF FACES

Nine days before the battle at Landing Zone X-Ray in Ia Drang Valley on November 15, 1965, a sharp engagement between the newly arrived 1st Cavalry Division and a firmly emplaced North Vietnamese Army (NVA) occurred on the west bank of the Ia Meur River on November 6th when two companies of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry took on the NVA. Twenty-six Americans were killed in the action which formed a prelude to the engagements at LZ X-Ray and LZ Albany. The Americans had been pursuing the NVA since their attack on the U.S. Special Forces’ camp at Plei Me on October 19th. The fighting on the 6th began after Companies B and C moved from their battalion overnight position and a platoon from B Company made contact with an NVA squad. The enemy broke contact with the Americans pursuing them straight into a portion of an entrenched NVA battalion. Fighting developed quickly as the rest of B Company reinforced the besieged platoon. C Company was redirected through dense jungle to support the contact. Each side maneuvered to gain fire superiority, but instead they became heavily engaged until darkness approached when both friendly and enemy forces began to pull back. The two U.S. companies linked up as the NVA slipped away, leaving a rear guard which poured automatic weapons fire on the American position. By 7:00 PM, the two companies had established a defensive perimeter and evacuated their dead and wounded. Two platoons from A Company were brought in to reinforce the U.S. position. There was light sniper fire overnight but no more heavy fighting. The lost personnel from the day’s fighting included (from B-2/8) 2LT Felix D. King Jr., SSG Ralph N. Smith, SGT William A. Sullivan, SP4 Clyde R. Herman, SP4 Earl G. Phillips, CPL Rudolph Rodriguez, and PFC James J. Crafton; (from C-2/8) SSG Morris E. Wheeler, SGT James W. Barksdale, SGT Miles H. Loper Jr., SGT Varis Savage Jr., SGT Louis Sherrod, SP4 Dennis Lichota, PFC Timothy H. Johnson, PFC John K. Keao III, PFC Justin M. Lynch, PFC Thomas H. Maynard (posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross), PFC Joseph P. Minnock, PFC James Mooney, PFC Anthony E. Pendola, PFC Willie C. Pickett, PFC Phillip K. Rea, PFC Daniel Santos-Trujillo, and PFC Alvin C. Sligh; and (from HQ Co-2/8) medics PFC James L. Allen and PFC Richard A. Noelke. [Sourced at coffeltdatabase.org and virtualwall.org]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. I am 73 and have lived a long and fulfilling life. It is tragic you never had that same opportunity. May you rest in eternal peace.

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

On the remembrance of your 74th birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Forever 18.

"Greater love hath no man, than that man lay down his life for a friend."

HOOAH...you did good

Dear PFC James Crafton,
Thank you for your service as an Infantryman with the 1st Cavalry. It is Presidents' Weekend, and good time to remember those who serve. 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.