THE WALL OF FACES

I’ve heard Cromwell’s name for years and I have a picture from my Dad which shows Marines grieving with the Lieutenant in the background. My Dad had the most kind words about Cromwell. I’m named after Michael Lee Zappia and I honor this with all my heart

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from fellow marine David Harris is touching. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever....

Lance Corporal Robert Walter Cromwell, Served with Company H, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

On December 7, 1968, three companies of Marines from 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, boarded helicopters for a campaign designed to retake control of a hill in an infamous area known as Mutter’s Ridge. The operation would take place approximately seven miles northwest of Cam Lo Village in Quang Tri Province, RVN. Artillery, air strikes, and tank attacks had long since denuded the ridge of vegetation, but the surrounding hillsides and valleys were a jungle of trees and vines. When the companies touched down and fanned out from their landing zones, the North Vietnamese retreated. They were pulling back to a large bunker complex where a showdown with the Americans would soon take place. After three days of patrols, isolated firefights with an elusive enemy, and multiple nights of American bombardment, Company F received the order to take some high ground on Mutter’s Ridge. It was December 11, 1968. Its sister company, Company H, was to heavily patrol the ridge and surrounding areas while Company F moved up the hill. At 8:25 AM, elements of F Company took 60mm mortar and small arms fire. The Marines called in 81mm support fire, and an aerial observer came on station and reported having the enemy in sight. As Company F pressed forward, the lead elements came under small arms and automatic weapons fire. The enemy was well-entrenched and dense vegetation made it difficult to spot the enemy fire It was later discovered that Company F had fought its way into a large, well-laid out bunker complex. Having fought their way in, it found it extremely difficult to maneuver its way out, due both to the fire of the enemy and the problem of carrying their wounded. Company H was on a neighboring hill, still eating breakfast, when Company F was engaged with the enemy. Company H was dispatched to reinforce Company F. It took until noon to reach the area of contact. When the point platoon finally crested the top of the ridge, they confronted a battlefield with wounded Marines everywhere. The Second Platoon leader, future FBI director and Special Counselor 2LT Robert S. Mueller, ordered everyone to drop their packs and prepare for a fight. They assaulted out across the top of the ridge, quickly coming under heavy fire from small arms, machine guns, and a grenade launcher. The battle atop and around Mutter’s Ridge raged for hours, with the North Vietnamese fire coming from the surrounding jungle. LCPL Robert W. Cromwell, the lance corporal who had just become a father, was shot in the thigh by a .50-caliber bullet. The bullet had nicked one of Cromwell’s arteries, and he bled to death before he reached the field hospital. His death may have saved the life of a fellow Marine—the night before Cromwell switched weapons with another, trading his M14 rifle for a M79 grenade launcher. During the battle the following day, when a grenadier was called forward, Cromwell was the one who moved up. As the fighting continued, the Marines atop the ridge began to run low on supplies. LCPL John C. Liverman was ferrying ammo from one side of the ridge to the other. LCPL Liverman, who was already wounded, came under fire during another run. He was mortally wounded after being hit in the head. Nearby, two Marines sheltered behind a dead tree stump, trying to find any protection amid the firestorm. Both of them were out of ammo. A Marine named Sparks crawled back to Liverman to try to evacuate his friend. He got him up on his shoulder when he was shot and went down. As he was lying on the ground, he heard a shout from atop the ridge, “Who’s that down there—are they dead?” It 2LT Mueller, leader of Second Platoon. The wounded Marine hollered back, “Sparks and Liverman.” “Hold on,” Mueller said, “We’re coming down to get you.” A few minutes later, Mueller appeared with another Marine and slithered the two wounded Marines into a bomb crater and battle dressed their wounds. They waited until a helicopter gunship passed overhead, its guns clattering, to distract the North Vietnamese, and Mueller hustled Sparks back toward the top of the hill and comparative safety. An OV-10 attack plane overhead dropped smoke grenades to help shield the Marines atop the ridge. Mueller then went back to retrieve the mortally wounded Liverman. Mueller later received the Bronze Star for bravery. The deaths mounted. CPL Agustin Rosario was shot in the ankle, and then, while he tried to run back to safety, was shot again in the back, this time fatally. Rosario died waiting for a medevac helicopter. Finally, as the hours passed, the Marines forced the North Vietnamese to withdraw. By 4:30 PM, the battlefield had quieted. As night fell, Companies H and F held the ground, and a third company, Company G, was brought forward as additional reinforcement. It was a brutal day for both sides; 13 Americans died and 31 were wounded. As the Americans explored the field around the ridge, they counted seven enemy dead left behind, in addition to seven others killed in the course of the battle. Intelligence reports later revealed that the battle had killed the commander of the 1st Battalion, 27th North Vietnamese Army Regiment, “and had virtually decimated his staff.” The lost Marines on Mutter’s Ridge included from Company H: Cromwell, Liverman, Rosario, and CPL James O. Weaver; from Company F: HM3 Dan M. Bennett, 1LT Steven P. Brodrick, PFC Raymond H. Highley, LCPL Gerald C. Hoage, CPL Thomas C. Rutter, PFC Bobby G. Simpson, PFC Daniel Tellez, LCPL Roy J. Weatherford Jr., and CPL James Woodward. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and wired.com]

Dear Lcpl Robert Cromwell,
Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. 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.