THE WALL OF FACES

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us.

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

Robert, you were one of the brave that answered the call. You honored us by your service and sacrifice. We now honor you each time we stand and sing the words “THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE”. Rest in Peace and Honor Robert.

SGT Robert L. Dorsey and SSG Ray Fordyce served with Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC), 4th Transportation Command, Army Support Command Saigon. They worked in a security capacity in the Harbor Craft Division keeping track of the many boats and landing craft that were assigned to 4th TC. Shortly after midnight on August 16, 1966, Tent City C, an encampment on the edge of Saigon next to unsecured “Indian Territory,” came under a barrage of mortar, automatic weapons, and small arm fire from a local Viet Cong militia. SGT Dorsey and SSG Fordyce had some Harbor Craft people working at Tent City C that night. They sent a boat down the river to bring them safely upriver to Saigon. The boat came back empty and the crew said they couldn’t find any harbor craft personnel at Tent City C. Via radio with Tent City C, they were able to confirm that the Harbor Craft personnel were still at Tent City C. They also confirmed that there was a lull in the firing and the attack seemed to be over. Fordyce and Dorsey wanted to be sure their men were safe, so they grabbed their weapons and jumped into a jeep and drove to Tent City C. When they arrived, they were informed that the Harbor Craft personnel had already gone back to Saigon Port via another boat. This they confirmed by radio. Since the attack was over, they headed back to Saigon Port. Dorsey was driving with Fordyce riding shotgun. As they approached a little village about ¼ mile from the Long Tau Canal, VC crossing the road saw the headlights of the jeep coming. They quickly set up an ambush, and at almost point-blank range they opened fire as the jeep came through. Fordyce was killed outright. Dorsey was wounded but managed to get about 100 yards out onto a rice paddy east of the road before he was hit again and knocked down. His VC pursuers overtook him and raked his body with automatic weapons and other small arms. A nearby ARVN security force across the Long Tau canal never fired a shot, afraid the VC might attack them. Their bodies were recovered later that morning by 4th TC personnel. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Richard A. Hanson (October 2019)]