THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Mameluke Thrust (May 19 - October 23, 1968) was 1st Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force a search and destroy mission into Happy Valley southwest of Da Nang in Quang Nam Province, RVN. The objective of Mameluke was spoiling attacks against North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong base areas and to preempt any planned offensive against Allied complexes in the Da Nang area. At 12:00 PM on September 11, 1968, a Company M, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines sweep made contact with an unknown-size North Vietnamese Army force near the hamlet of Phu Nam (1), four kilometers (2.4 miles) northwest of An Hoa Airfield. The company was maneuvering across an open rice paddy when it came under intense automatic weapons and small arms fire from the large enemy unit. Numerous Marines were wounded in the initial burst of fire. The company returned fire with unit weapons, then moved back to utilize Marine artillery and air support. The company next assaulted the enemy position and swept the area. The sweep revealed fifteen North Vietnamese Army dead, five enemy prisoners captured, and three AK-47 rifles and one Russian pistol seized. M Company sustained seven Marines and one Navy corpsman killed in the engagement. Ten other Marines were wounded requiring medical evacuation, and another four had non-evacuation minor wounds. There were also seven nonbattle casualties evacuated. The lost Marines included PFC Richard G. Daniels, PFC James K. Hoyez, PFC Armando Lopez, PFC Phillip E. Slaughter, CPL Douglas M. Smith, PFC Thomas W. Steele, and PFC Owen White Jr.; the lost Navy corpsman was HN Thomas E. Welker. Hoyez was killed attempting to resuscitate the mortally wounded corpsman Welker who lay in an exposed position after trying to assist downed Marines. Hoyez was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for bravery. White also gave his life assisting other Marines; he was also posthumously awarded the Silver Star. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “1st Marine Division (Rein) Command Chronology for September 1968” at ttu.edu]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. I am 73 and have lived a long and fulfilling life. It is tragic you never had that same opportunity. May you rest in eternal peace.

Dear Richard Gale Daniels,
Thank you for your service. Your wife and family, among many others, are overwhelmingly grateful for your sacrifice. You're bravery and sacrifice is the reason many of us are here today.
Thank you.

Never forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine

Private First Class Richard Gale Daniels, Served with Company M, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.