THE WALL OF FACES

Camp Eagle was located 4.3 miles southeast of Hue in Thua Thien Province, RVN. The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division was based at Eagle during May–June 1968. At half past midnight on May 21, 1968, an estimated North Vietnamese Army (NVA) battalion launched an intense mortar and rocket attack on the camp. Over 400 rounds hit Eagle between 12:29 AM and 1:38 AM. Helicopters immediately lifted off to engage enemy mortar and rocket launch sites (14 sites were located through radar and visual sightings). Under the cover of the incoming mortar rounds, the enemy launched a ground attack against the 1st Brigade perimeter. Utilizing small arms and automatic weapons fire, Bangalore torpedoes, demolition charges, and RPG-7 and RPG-2 (rocket-propelled grenade) fire, the enemy broke through the outer perimeter wires and moved toward the bunker line. Intense friendly small arms and automatic weapons fire supported by aerial units and direct fire artillery “Beehive” anti-personnel rounds repulsed the enemy attack. Artillerymen of the 2-320 Arty fired four rounds of Beehive at the NVA attempting to breach the perimeter and killed twelve. The enemy fled from the area at 5:00 AM as gunships placed fire on the retreating NVA. A sweep of the area at daylight revealed 54 NVA dead with two prisoners detained. A variety of weapons were captured, including 11 individual and five crew served weapons, 40 satchel charges, 30 Bangalore torpedoes, 50 RPG rockets, an undetermined number of 90mm recoilless rifle rounds, and miscellaneous small arms ammunition and field equipment. Friendly losses were 13 U.S. killed and 53 wounded with 16 requiring emergency medical evacuation. The lost personnel included (from HHC-2/502nd) 2LT John P. Brown, 1LT Michael L. Deane (died of wounds 05/24/1968), and SSG Jerry E. Spicer; (A-2/502nd) PFC Michael F. Deeny III; (B-2/502nd) SP4 James Johnson Jr., PFC Leonard D. McGinnis, and PFC Charles E. Walthall; (C-2/502nd) SP4 Billie R. Acree (posthumously promoted to Sergeant) and PFC Larry M. Gross (posthumously promoted to Corporal); (E-2/502nd) PFC Vincent J. Caravello; (HHC-2/327th) SGT Gregory A. Harper; (HHC-2/327th) SP4 Gregory A. Harper (posthumously promoted to Sergeant); and (C-2/327th) PFC Theodore R. Hollis (posthumously promoted to Corporal). Damage to base camp equipment and station property was light. [Sourced at coffeltdatabase.org and “Operational Report of 101st Air Cavalry Division for Period Ending 31 July 1968” at archive.org]

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POSTED ON 5.23.2022

POSTED BY: John Fabris

honoring you...

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.

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POSTED ON 12.3.2021

POSTED BY: Marcus Aust

Never forgotten

Thank you for all of your service that you have done for our country and to keep us protected.You will be remembered forever.

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POSTED ON 11.26.2021

POSTED BY: ANON

Forever 18

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

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POSTED ON 2.20.2021

POSTED BY: A Volunteer Picture Gatherer

Memorial Day – Remembering My Brother Frank

50 years have passed since I lost my 19-year-old brother in a far-away war very few of us young adults understood. I was twenty when Frank died and at the time, too young to understand the Vietnam conflict that started when I was seven. Frank was six in 1955 when it all began and would die there in 1968. I have had a lifetime now to get to know my other siblings, witnessing who they’ve become- something Frank never got to do in his short stay on this planet. My brother has been missing from the larger portrait of our family as years passed. We talk about all the crazy things he did, how much food he could consume as a young boy, the girlfriends and the trouble he got into, but there are all those missing things he never got to experience and which we did not get to see or share. He stays forever young in our remembrances as we grow old but what would he have done with his life? Who would he have become as he grew older? We will remember and talk more about him as we gather this weekend. Love and Light Michael Francis!

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