THE WALL OF FACES

On the remembrance of your birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Forever 18.

Semper Fi, Marine.

Abraham R. Derryberry

Silver Star
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Lance Corporal
Battalion: 1st Battalion
Division: 3d Marine Division (Rein.), FMF
GENERAL ORDERS:

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lance Corporal Abraham R. Derryberry, III (MCSN: 2259201), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Rifleman with Company A, First Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. Late on the afternoon of 5 March 1968 during Operation Napoleon/Saline, the lead platoon of Company A was participating in a company-size search and clear mission near the village of Dai Do in Quang Tri Province when the unit came under heavy enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire, wounding several Marines and pinning down the remainder of the platoon. Rapidly assessing the situation, Lance Corporal Derryberry provided covering fire which enabled a corpsman to move across the fire-swept area to reach the injured men and administer first aid. Then, ignoring the heavy volume of hostile fire, he led a fire team across the hazardous area to carry a resupply of ammunition to the platoon, advancing under intense fire to the most forward position. Repeatedly exposing himself to hostile fire, he carried the casualties to safety, refusing to leave the battle area until he ensured that all the wounded had been moved to covered positions. Subsequently, when his company was engaged in another search and clear mission on 7 March near the village of Phu Ta, the Marines suddenly came under heavy small arms and automatic weapons fire from an estimated two North Vietnamese Army companies. During the assault against the village, Lance Corporal Derryberry was mortally wounded. By his courage, inspiring leadership and selfless devotion to duty, Lance Corporal Derryberry upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Dear Lcpl Abraham Derryberry,
Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. 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.

The village were Darryberry was killed and I was wounded was called Phu Ta on March 7, 1968. Not Dai Do that happen on March 5, 1968 as I stated earlier.
What I remember about Dai Do on the 5th of March was trying to cross the rice patties under fire to get into the village of Dai Do and running out of my boots because my boot laces came untied. they called us back out of the rice patties because of darkness and having to carry our dead and wounded back into the village that we had cleared earlier that morning before trying to get into Dai Do in the afternoon My sergeant (Sargent Stone) was mad at me because I did not have any boots on. I tried to explain to him that as I was running in the rice paddies trying to get into Dai Do the boot laces had came untied and they were shooting at us and I could not stop to tie my boot laces so I kept going forward.

My name is Ronnie Kotler, Atlanta, Ga. I served with Lancr Corporal Derryberry in Viet Nam I was in the fire fight with him went he was killed. I was wounded at Dai Do on March 7, 1968 and medevac to the island of Guam. I remember Derryberry so well he was my friend and he always make me laugh. My he rest in peace.