THE WALL OF FACES

Lance Corporal Kenneth Lamar Deavers Jr., Served with the 3rd Platoon, Company D, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us.

May those who served never be forgotten. Rest in peace LCPL. Deavers, I salute your brave soul. My heart goes out to you and your family. Semper Fidelis!

On the morning of February 6, 1967, a seventeen-man reconnaissance team from 3rd Platoon, Company D, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division was deployed near Hill 200, eight miles south of Que Son Airfield in Quang Tin Province, RVN, to establish an observation post (OP). The mission was to determine the extent of Viet Cong (VC) activity at selected points in their area of responsibility and conduct area surveillance and reconnaissance in support of the First Marine Division. After insertion by helicopter, the patrol moved to the top of a hill where they located two booby-trapped M26 grenades. A Marine UH-1E helicopter flew over their position and reported VC were sighted coming up the north side of the hill. At 10:30 AM, a squad on the move to prepare an OP hit a mine. The explosion killed three Marines: PFC James A. Angermiller, CPL Roger V. P. Burke, and CPL William E. Franklin Jr. died after suffering blast and fragmentation injuries. The casualties were evacuated, and the platoon moved to another location and set up an OP. At 12:30 PM the following day, they heard voices from an estimated thirty VC coming toward their position. The enemy made contact, throwing grenades and firing small arms. The patrol returned fire and called in three artillery fire missions on the enemy positions. A UH-1 gunship also provided support, strafing the enemy positions. The VC broke contact fifteen minutes later. Results of the engagement were eight VC killed (probable) and one Marine dead with six wounded. The lost Marine was rifleman LCPL Kenneth L. Deavers Jr. The patrol was extracted after the action. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and Command Chronology, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion (Rein), Chu Lai, February 1967]

Will always be with me