THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Paul Revere II (August 1-31, 1966) was a U.S. Army 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division operation that took place west of Pleiku in Pleiku Province, RVN. A continuance of Operation Paul Revere I, intelligence indicated that two North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Divisions, the 625th and the 630th, were preparing to launch a major offensive to coincide with the arrival of the southwest monsoon season, a time when U.S. air support would be severely limited by marginal flying conditions throughout much of the Central Highlands. On July 30th, the Commanding General of I Field Forces ordered that 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division be attached to the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, and deployed into the Paul Revere area of operations. By July 31st, 2/7th Cav was beginning local search-and-destroy operations about 15 miles southeast of Plei Djereng and turning up signs of recent enemy activity in the area. At 5:15 hours on August 1st, the 32nd NVA Regiment initiated the first major contact of Paul Revere II by launching a battalion-sized attack against the positions of A and B Company, 2/7th Cav at Landing Zone 21D, seven kilometers (4.3 miles) northwest of Xuong Kuang and 30 kilometers (18 miles) southwest of Pleiku. Ninety rounds of mortar fire slammed into the American position while ground forces repeatedly assaulted the perimeter. When his third major attack was repulsed two hours later, the enemy finally began withdrawing to the northwest, taking most of his casualties with him. U.S. Air Force Combat Sky Spot missions utilized ground-based radar systems to attack the enemy concealed under monsoon rains, low-laying clouds, and darkness. Ten missions were conducted during the morning against suspected enemy withdrawal routes. The initial perimeter defense had been supported by flares and minigun fire from U.S. Air Force AC-47D “Spooky” gunships. The enemy left 28 bodies on the field, but had hit the two U.S. companies hard, inflicting five killed and 68 wounded. The lost personnel included (from A-2/7) PFC Ronald H. Kaiser and PFC Jeffery L. Ledford; and (from B-2/7) SGT William E. Anderson, PFC Wendell E. Churchill, and PFC George D. Curry. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Project CHECO: Operation Paul Revere/Sam Houston, 27 July 1967” at archive.com]

GARRYOWEN

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 sun 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.

As long as you are remembered you will never die....

Sergeant William Edward Anderson, Served with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

YOU WERE A SERGEANT. I AM SORRY I GOT IT WRONG, YOU DESERVE BETTER, AS AN INDIRECT FIRE INFANTRYMAN WITH THE 1ST CAVALRY, I HOPE YOU SAID HI TO A FRIEND'S BROTHER WHO WAS 1ST CAV AND GREETED HIM IN HEAVEN. REST IN PEACE.