THE WALL OF FACES

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.

Today is the 50th anniversary of your passing and we took some balloons and said a prayer at your gravesite, Edward. Four members of the VFW Post 9610 (Lake Park, FL) were in attendance with me. We also remembered the 5 other servicemen that perished with you on that day of your ambush attack. I have added some new photos showing today's celebration of your life.

Dear GMG3 Edward Darville,
Thank you for your service as a Gunner's Mate (Guns) 3rd Class. Passover just began and today is Easter. 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.

On August 18, 1968, River Assault Divisions 91 (RAD 91) craft were conducting assault operations in Dinh Tuong Province, RVN, when they were ambushed seven miles northwest of Cai Be. RAD 91 was attacked in two ambushes along the Hai Muoi Tam Canal. In one assault, a rocket crashed into the well deck of an Armored Troop Carrier (ATC) 112-2, incapacitating a full platoon of army troops. Two more rockets struck the coxswain flat. The first tore the barred armor side, and the second burned through, spraying a sailor and the radioman with shrapnel. They survived their wounds. There were three Navymen killed, one sailor declared missing, and 29 wounded and medevacked. U.S Army losses amounted to two soldiers killed and 53 wounded during the devastating ambushes. Six assault craft were damaged, three of them heavily as a result of the attack. Enemy losses amounted to 41 Viet Cong killed. The lost sailors on the ATC 112-2 were BM3 Stephen C. Brunton, GMG3 Edward R. Darville III, RM3 Patrick J. Griffin, and BM3 Billy D. Roy. BM3 Roy was the seaman originally reported missing and was recovered the same day. The lost soldiers were PFC Hector Lugo-Mojica and PFC John F. Sullivan from 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry. Both Lugo-Mojica and Sullivan were posthumously promoted to Corporal. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and wendellaffield.com]

As we are getting close to the 50 year mark of your passing, I have posted photos of your grave site and your families'.
I hope someone that knew you could email me with some info about you. The grave site is located in Royal Palm Memorial Gardens...West Palm Beach, FL.