THE WALL OF FACES

Samuel is buried at Shady Grove Cemetery, Tampa,FL. SS BSM-OLC AM PH-OLC

Abe, I was privileged to serve with you in Panama (67-68). With quiet dignity and grace, you taught a green lieutenant (me) a lot. When I got the word at LZ Baldy, the pain was made worse becasue you were so "short". Ask God for all of us why he takes the great ones first?

LZ Becky

The night was an unusually black one. The moon was in its dark phase on 11 August 1969 and the sky was overcast. Visibility was less that 12 meters and the troopers of 2/8 Cav manning the bunkers could barely make out the first string of wire. It was a night that was made to order for the sappers assigned to the 95C Regiment. The barefoot sappers had only made their way through the outer string of wire when they were spotted.
When the bunkers opened up the base of fire elements of the NVA began pelting the base with rocket and mortar fire, and an assault by an estimated two companies of NVA infantry. The 0300 attack was driven back at a cost of 4 KIA and 14 WIA, 7 of the WIA were from A/1/30.
Back at the battery rear in Tay Ninh, SSG George E. Snyder had just returned from R&R when he heard about the attack. When he learned that another attack was expected he began rounding up replacements for the wounded in A Battery. Another A Battery NCO, SSG Samuel Abrams, Jr. was also at Phuoc Vinh. SSG Abrams was due to return to the states in two days. When he spotted SSG Snyder, he told him, "You aren't going to go out there and get yourself killed without me". Both men and the replacements boarded the helicopter to FSB Becky.
The statement turned out to be prophesy. At 0340 on the 12th of August the NVA hit Becky with a storm of mortar, rocket and RPG rounds. The over 400 rocket and mortar rounds caused most of the casualties sustained by A/1/30 that night. When the battle ended, 1SG Tom Vernor was the ranking man still on his feet although he had been wounded twice. The battery had suffered 9 KIA and 19 WIA. Among those listed as KIA were SSG Snyder (Chief of Section, #2 Gun) and SSG Abrams (Chief of Section, #3 Gun). Greater love hath no man.

SSG Samuel "Smoke" Abrams was a 155mm Howitzer Section Chief with A Battery, 1st Bn, 30th FA, 1st Cavalry Division, (Airmobile). He was killed while continuing to lead his gun crew in the face of an enemy ground attack supported by rockets and mortars on LZ BECKY. He continually exposed himself to enemy fire until mortally wounded. For his bravery he was Posthumously awarded a Silver Star Medal and a Purple Heart. For more info please contact MSG (R) Dan Gillotti <[email protected]>, Historian 30th FA Regiment.