THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service. You went when others refused. We will never know what motivated you but I pray you forever rest in peace safe and secure from any harm.

PVT Joshua M. Daniels was an Indirect Fire Infantryman serving with B Company, 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Daniels, a draftee and husband with three young sons, arrived in Vietnam in June of 1970. The 4th Infantry Division had recently departed the Central Highlands and relocated its base of operations to Camp Radcliff at An Khe as Vietnamization and the drawdown of U.S. forces in Southeast Asia was underway. For the remainder of the year, the 4th Infantry Division helped South Vietnamese forces pacify the lowlands of Binh Dinh, a heavily populated province with deep ties to the Viet Cong insurgency. In December, the Division deactivated and prepared to return to the United States. With time remaining on his tour of duty, Daniels was reassigned to the 101st Airborne Division with a report date set for December 6th; however, he never reported to his new unit after allegedly deserting his post on November 29th. At 9:43 AM on January 18, 1971, seven weeks after going absent, U.S. military police patrolling an off-limits area near the hamlet of Tan Che outside of An Khe observed Daniels and attempted to take him into custody. Daniels tried to evade, and in the process of throwing grenades at the MP’s, one detonated in his hand. He lost part of an arm and leg in the blast and sustained a large wound to his torso. Despite the injuries, Daniels remained conscious but refused to give his name or unit of assignment. He was flown to the 67th Evacuation Hospital at Qui Nhon where he was admitted at 10:45 AM. Medical staff were unable to stem the blood loss and he expired from cardiac arrest at 3:15 PM. His identity still unknown, Daniels’ remains were forwarded to the nearby Graves Registration Services. With no ID tags, they had difficulty in identifying the body. Daniels’ identity remained a mystery until January 26th when a positive identification was made using fingerprints. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

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…..

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

Burial location found. Pvt Daniels is buried at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.