THE WALL OF FACES

Staff Sergeant Joseph Richard Daigneault, Served with the 3rd Platoon, Company A, 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, United States Army Vietnam.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever…..

On May 20, 1968, 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, was a couple weeks into a sweep and clear mission in Quang Ngai Province, RVN. Operating understrength at about twenty-eight troopers instead of the forty or so that made up a full platoon, their daily routine consisted of patrols in and around the kaleidoscope hamlets and villes in their area of operations. Early into their day’s planned quick, two-hour sweep, a huge explosion occurred when a 500lb. bomb exploded. It was unclear whether it had been command-detonated or booby-trapped, but the results were devastating. Eight members of 3rd Platoon lay dead or mortally wounded and another sixteen were injured, ten of which required immediate medical evacuation. Helicopters arrived and carried the wounded to the 27th Surgical Hospital and 2nd Surgical Hospital at Chu Lai Air Base. One of 3rd Platoon’s squad leaders was spared when he was sent to Chu Lai for medical reasons the day before. He was tasked with the grisly chore of identifying the dead at the Graves Registration section at 2nd Surgical Hospital, many of who were his friends. The lost personnel included SSG Joseph R. Daigneault, CPL Newton M. Gray Jr., SGT Robert J. Hartley, SGT Richard H. Junk, SGT John D. Larry, CPL Willie J. McClain Jr., SGT Michael J. Swieczkowski, and SGT Richard A. Western. CPL Dennis W. Lane, who survived the medivac, expired the following day. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, americal4ofthe3.com, and information provided by Ron Krul (July 2019)]

Dear Ssgt Joseph Daigneault,
I hope your photo is put here because this is a wall of faces and yours should be here. Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Easter is coming up. Happy Easter. 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.

Thank you Staff Sergeant Daigneault for your devotion, leadership and courage.