THE WALL OF FACES

Petty Officer Second Class Edward Crus Cruz, Served aboard PCF-19 (Patrol Craft Fast 19), Coastal Division 12 (COSDIV-12), Task Force 115 (TF-115), United States Naval Forces Vietnam (USNAVFORV).

May those who served never be forgotten. Rest in peace EN2. Cruz, I salute your brave soul. My heart goes out to you and your family. Fair wind and following seas!

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed...
We feel lucky to have seen it.

Just past midnight on June 16, 1968, the U.S. Navy Swift Boat PCF-19 from Coast Guard Division 12, Task Force 115, was attacked from the air, struck by two missiles and sunk. Four of her crew members were killed, and two others badly injured. A Vietnamese Navy (VNN) petty officer was also killed. The lost crewmen included GMC2 Billy S. Armstrong, QM2 Frank Bowman, BM2 Anthony G. Chandler, and EN2 Edward C. Cruz. Bowman’s remains were not recovered and he is still carried as Missing in Action. The boat had been patrolling with PCF-12 near the DMZ (17th parallel) when they were attacked by hovering aircraft. PCF-12 commenced a running gun battle, firing its .50 caliber machine guns and zig zagging at high speed for well over an hour. During this battle, PCF-12 continuously radioed that it was under attack by an unidentified hovering aircraft. Response from command was "no friendly aircraft in the area". In order to isolate the problem, U.S. Forces suspended all flying operations within PCF-12's area of operation. Despite this measure, PCF-12 continued to be engaged with the enemy. The following day, a friendly-fire incident occurred when U.S. jet aircraft accidentally attacked the Australian destroyer HMAS Hobart and the heavy cruiser Boston. U.S. rocket fire killed two Australian sailors and injured eleven others, while slightly damaging the Hobart and the Boston. Parts of the rockets were later recovered and were identified as American. After all reports had been submitted, the attacks on the two allied warships were attributed to friendly-fire from U.S. fixed-wing aircraft. The attacks on PCF-19 and PCF-12 were also attributed to friendly fire from these aircraft. A primary feature in the confusion was that the attack upon the Swift Boats and the unidentified hovering aircraft started between midnight and 1:00 AM on June 16th, and the attacks on the Boston and Hobart occurred during the same time the following day, June 17th. However, these were two separate dates, and two separate incidents. When the reports were completed these two events were conflated, and both were attributed to friendly fire. It has been theorized by both officers and men of the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy that the North Vietnamese Army were operating helicopters at Tiger Island, located just off the North Vietnamese coast. Hovering aircraft had been seen near the DMZ by U.S. Marines on shore. Declassified official reports note "enemy aircraft" did in fact operate in the area. Enough evidence is present to conclude that the loss of PCF-19 was due to fire from a helicopter aircraft operated by or for the North Vietnamese. As of 2006, the attack upon PCF-12 and PCF-19 is still regarded by the U.S. Navy as a friendly-fire incident. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and wikipedia.org]

Dear EN2 Edward Cruz,
Thank you for your service as an Engineman 2nd Class. 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.