THE WALL OF FACES

On January 10, 1968, Mobile Riverine soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 9th Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade engaged in bitter fighting in the Cai Be District in western Dinh Tuong Province, approximately fifty miles southwest of Saigon. The contact targeted the 261st Main Force (VC) Battalion, considered the best equipped and toughest enemy force in the Mekong Delta. The fighting broke out shortly after 1:00 PM as A Company, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry was inserted by helicopter and met stiff resistance when landed in a VC base area. The Americans were caught out in the open by the VC's well-prepared, camouflaged positions and sustained moderate casualties from automatic weapons, small arms, and rifle grenade fire. C Company, 3/60th immediately moved overland toward the battleground and ran into a VC platoon headed in the opposite direction. The U.S. troops forced the enemy to return southward where they were pounded by artillery and air strikes. As the battle progressed into the late afternoon, all elements of 3/60th and the 4/47th plus Company A, 3/47th were drawn into positions completely encircling the enemy forces. Contact ranged from sporadic to heavy until 10:30 PM. Just before midnight, a flotilla of fleeing enemy sampans was hit by U.S. gunship and artillery fire. When the combat ceased, twenty-six enemy bodies were found. Continued sweep operations the next day located twenty-one fresh graves believed to have been from the sampan engagement. U.S. losses were nineteen killed and fifty wounded. The lost personnel included (3rd Bn, 34th Arty) 1LT Edward W. Argy, PVT Norman W. Bates, and PFC Gordon L. Goins (posthumously promoted to Corporal); (HHC, 3/60th) medic PFC Lee R. Birden; (A-3/60th) PFC William B. Cameron, PFC Herman R. Fletcher, SGT David H. Hershberger, SGT Anthony J. Lederer, 1LT Harry P. Mc Falls, PVT Richard W. Shiver, and SP4 Glen A. Zeigler; (C-3/60th) PFC William M. Bridgeford, SSG Willie J. Cottrell, PFC David C. Daily (posthumously promoted to Corporal), SGT Henry J. Doneski, PFC Alex J. Hernandez, SSG Robert L. Hutchison, and SP4 Robert I. Moore; (43rd Inf Plt Scout Dog) SGT Bobby D. Crawford; and (240th Assault Helicopter Company) SP5 Martin D. Klann, the crew chief of a UH-1H (#66-16185) helicopter hit in flight by groundfire. Klann was taken to the 24th Evacuation Hospital where he expired. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “MRF soldiers slay 47 enemy in Delta.” The Old Reliable (9th Inf Div publication), January 24, 1968]

A good friend of your sister Cathy, I will never forget the day I learned of your death, so tragic for your family

My father was your roommate at Harvard and said you were his best friend. When I was a child, he raved about you and the time you spent together. He heard the news while in basic training and was devastated, unable to attend your funeral. I still remember your name all these years later from his stories. I could see the pain in his eyes when he spoke about you, decades later. He said you are a hero. Your family should be proud.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. It is heart-breaking to read the remembrances for you posted earlier and to think that so promising a life was cut so short. As long as you are remembered you will never truly die....

I have no idea of why I write this tonight...can’t sleep and wonder why Ed died so young...I remember the boxing match at the IAB at Harvard and Ed boxing with Larry Weisman who was probably two feet taller and Ed punching at him wildly for the first round or so and then running away from Larry. I remember going to his wake and the face of utter loss on his Father’s face. I wonder why he died and I am alive...rest well Ed...I have thought of you often...