THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Greeley was a 173rd Airborne Brigade search-and-destroy operation in the jungle-covered mountains near Dak To in Kontum Province, RVN. On the afternoon of July 10, 1967, three maneuver battalions conducted a sweep near a 2700-foot mountain referred to Hill 830, 12 kilometers (7.2 miles) south of Ben Het village. Companies A, B, and D, 4th Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry, moved west toward their day’s objective when Company A made heavy contact with a dug-in North Vietnamese Army (NVA) unit on Hill 830. Company A received fire from three heavy machine guns at close range. Artillery was called on the enemy positions as Company B closed in to support. They were hit by two more heavy machine guns in undetected bunkers. The NVA further employed light automatic weapons and mortar fire. The enemy positions were mutually supporting and estimated to be occupied by a reinforced NVA company. Company D, which had been in reserve, maneuvered to relieve pressure on the besieged companies. The enemy broke contact at 6:00 PM and withdrew, leaving nine bodies and three weapons behind. Two days later, two NVA wounded were captured in a base camp to the southwest of the contact. American losses were 25 killed and 50 wounded. The lost personnel included (A-4/503rd) SFC Myron S. Beach Jr., PFC John C. Borowski (posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross), SP4 Roger W. Clark, SGT William J. Deuerling (posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal), SP4 Arthur A. Erwin, PFC David H. Johnson, 1LT Daniel W. Jordan (posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross), SP4 Oris L. Poole, SP4 Walter A. Samans Jr., and SP4 Franklin S. Shepherd; (B-4/503rd) SGT David P. Crozier, PFC Jimmy E. Darby, SP4 Larry A. Doring, PFC James Fabrizio, PFC Frazier D. Huggins (posthumously promoted to Corporal), SFC William A. Scott, PFC Malton G. Shores, PFC Harry D. Spier, and SGT Jesus M. Torres; (HHC-4/503rd) SGT Siegfried Kofler, PFC Joel M. Sabel (posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and promoted to Corporal), and MAJ Walter D. Williams; (3/319th Arty) SGT Kenneth L. Brown, PFC Michael S. Mitchell, and 1LT Arthur C. Retzlaff. One of the wounded, SP4 Peter G. Lechnir (B-4/503rd), was evacuated to the United States. Medically retired and confined to a wheelchair, he died of his injuries on February 15, 1973. Lechnir’s name was added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in November 1991. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vvmf.org]

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.

David....Honoring You on your birthday....Never forgotten......God Bless

The war may be forgotten but the warrior will always be remembered. All gave Some-Some gave All. Rest in peace Sky Soldier.

On behalf of those who served with you in the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) and all who followed, we offer our respect and remembrance of your ultimate sacrifice. May you never be forgotten and your family and friends take comfort in your valor in serving.