THE WALL OF FACES

Landing Zone (LZ) St. George was a 4th Infantry Division firebase located eight miles southwest of Plei Do Lim Air Field in Pleiku Province, RVN. Thirty minutes after midnight on November 6, 1969, a large North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong force attacked St. George with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms. Five minutes later, sappers penetrated the perimeter, tossing satchel charges in an attempt to destroy the howitzer section at St. George. Intense fighting ensued as the Americans’ 80-man complement engaged an enemy force estimated at ten-times its size. At 12:55 AM, the enemy was attempting to enter the south gate of the base. The Americans fought back with unit weapons and Claymore mines. The enemy combatants inside the wire were forced back to the west side of the base where they took refuge in a trench line. U.S. gunships and flareships came on station above St. George providing supporting arms and illumination during the siege. Scattered fighting continued until 5:30 AM. Enemy losses were placed at 40 dead against nine Americans killed and thirty-one wounded. A tenth aircrewman on a flareship died after an illumination device exploded in his face. The lost U.S. personnel included SP4 Charles W. Lowery, PVT Thomas A. Putman, SP4 Larry W. Robison, PFC William C. Ray, PFC Bradley J. Logan, SP4 Donald G Hedgecock, SP4 Raymond C. Foerster, PFC Ronald L. DeLong (posthumously promoted to Corporal), and PFC David J. Gamble (posthumously promoted to Corporal and awarded the Silver Star medal for bravery). SGT Gregory P. Rugenstein, a door gunner on a flareship, died the following day at the 71st Evacuation Hospital at Pleiku from blast and burn injuries. A memorial service was conducted the following day at LZ St. George in honor of its fallen defenders. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and militaryheritage.weebly.com; Image: A Polaroid photograph of the memorial service conducted on November 7, 1969]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your wife Linda is touching. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever…..

I am trying to connect with the spouse or children of Ronald DeLong. I am a writer that would like to tell some stories of Vietnam casualties.

Dear Cpl Ronald De Long,
Thank you for your service as a Medical NCO. Thank you for the lives you saved. It has been too long, and it's about time 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.

He was only 22 had a new wife waiting for him at home after his Tour of Duty.Ronald is remembered by his family as outgoing, kind and had a Presence about him that made you feel glad he was around. He was a Seventh Day Adventist, his father was a Minister his mother a "Homemaker". Being a Seventh Day Adventist he chose not to carry a gun and was labeled a "conscientious objector" which is an individual who, on religious, moral or ethical grounds, refuses to participate as a combatant in war or, in some cases, to take any role that would support a combatant organization. He was not against being in the Military but obeyed the 6th Commandment. Most conscientious objectors were assigned to the Medical Core and the majority became Combat Medics. His Tour of Duty started on October 7th,1969. He was a medic with the 4th Infantry Division stationed at "Camp Enari" in Pleiku Province which was at the base of Dragon Mountain. As a medic Ronald saw death and the gruesomeness of war first hand. On November 6th 1969 1st Battalion 14th Infantry sent a Patrol to LZ St. George about twenty klicks south from camp Enari. While on patrol his company came under enemy attack. Enemy fire ended his life and seven others from his unit on that day. Less than one month after his arrival "In Country" he became a "Casualty Number". He would never be able to hold his young wife again.

This Soldier was my cousin Ronald De Long and I to this day will never forget the emptiness that came over me when I heard of his death some 40 years ago even though I was only ten . As a parent I can only imagine my Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Lawrence's heart felt grief when they heard the knock and saw a uniformed soldier there when the door opened. As a spouse I can't even begin to imagine his young bride's broken heart.


*A Note from The Virtual Wall
On 06 Nov 1969 the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, lost eight men at Firebase Saint George:
A Company:
SP4 Charles W. Lowery, Chicago, IL
SP4 Larry W. Robison, Winfield, AL
PVT Thomas A. Putman, Toledo, OH


B Company:
PFC William C. Ray, Marietta, GA


D Company:
SP4 Raymond C. Foerster, Dallas, TX
SP4 Donald G. Hedgecock, Cahokia, IL
PFC Bradley J. Logan, Dearborn, MI


HQ Company:
CPL Ronald L. De Long, Collegedale, TN

Donna Turner Horton
[email protected]
CPL. Ronald DE Long on your birthday we say thank you to the hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.A hero forever in so many peoples hearts.May you rest in peace young man for you travel through a form of hell already called war.Thank God for those like you who were willing to fight for freedom.
Dec 31, 2007






Manuel Pino Bco 2/8th 1st Cav 68-69
[email protected]
Fellow Medic


The proud young valor that rose above the mortal and then, at last, was mortal after all. Rest in peace.