THE WALL OF FACES

Dave Dorfman came to Company C 1st 327 Infantry, 1st. Brigade 101st Airborne Division, in October 1965. We had been in Nam since the end of July and, as a new guy, he stood out. He also stood out because he was 6'7". He was known among the troopers as "Two-niner-two" because he carried the 292 Long Antenna which we used to increase the range of our radios. He was the only trooper, or for that matter the only person, I ever saw jogging over there "for the fun of it." On 9 March' 1966 he was a radio telephone operator for Cobra Company's 3rd Platoon. He was killed instantly as the unit sustained automatic weapons fire from three sides. medical evacuation of the three dead and six or seven wounded was not possible because of both hostile fire and the artillery fire which was going overhead. Two troopers from another platoon, SSgt. Erickson and Sp/4 Carmie Guyette, saw Dorfman and a lieutenant down in the tall grass and, disregarding continuing fire from 3 sides, went to their assistance. Dave was draped over Carmie's 5'6" frame and his arms dragged in the grass as Carmie carried his to the rear. SSgt. Erickson oppicked up the wounded lt. and toook him to safety. Several years ago Dave Dorfman's mom and sister attended the annual "Cold Steel Cobra" reunion and, for the first time, talked to the men who soldiered along side Dave when being a Screaming Eagle paratrooper was not easy. It was special blessing for all.