THE WALL OF FACES

This is his boot camp photo from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Platoon 215. He earned the title “U.S. Marine” on May 6, 1964.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice to our great country my brother. Semper Fi

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

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. Rest in eternal peace.

Lance Corporal Heriberto Armenta was born in Cananea, Mexico. His parents came to California when he was still a boy. He enlisted in the U.S. Marines on February 12, 1964 in Los Angeles, CA. LCpl Armenta was a Marine Rifleman, age 19, born June 6, 1946, from Los Angeles, CA. LCpl Armenta arrived in Vietnam with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), III MAF, FMFPac. On March 4, Operation UTAH was launched under the command of Task Force Delta in the Son Thinh District of Quang Ngai Province where the Marines would encounter elements of the 21st NVA Regiment. On D-day 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines conducted a helicopter assault near the Chau Ngai complex of villages and was heavily engaged with a regiment of NVA regulars near Hill 50 and Hill 35. Elements of F Company and H Company were overrun but were able to recover and consolidate to a night position near Chau Ngai 4. By the end of D-Day, 2/7 counted 94 enemy KIA and estimated 63 WIA. Friendly losses were 44 KIA and 84 WIA. An additional 20+ persons received minor wounds and were not evacuated. The next day, 5 March, the battle moved to the North and 2/7 cleaned up the battlefields from the day before, recovering the dead, and clearing out caves and bunkers. On March 4, 1966, LCpl Armenta was killed in action dying outright from multiple fragmentation wounds from an enemy explosive device. LCpl Armenta is interred at Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California and is honored on the Vietnam Memorial on Panel 05E, Line 098.

Primo, I was but ten years old when you gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country and I still remember the night my parents went to your service's in E.L.A. RIP primo..