THE WALL OF FACES

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

I was the company clerk of the 545th transportation company 1970 through may 1971.. I was the first person to touch him after an accident involving a grenade explosion in the orderly room, at tuy hoa. I knew this officer have attempted to find him for 48 years. Sir. Rest in peace. I've got your back.

Dear Lt Robert Doten,
Thank you for your service with the Army. I do not know your MOS, only that you served. We remember all you who gave their all. 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.

First Lieutenant Robert Alan Doten, Served with the 545th Transportation Company, 593rd General Support Group, United States Army Support Command (Qui Nhon), 1st Logistical Command, United States Army Vietnam.

1LT Robert A. Doten served with the 545th Transportation Company. On the morning of January 4, 1971, after the company formation, drivers and mechanics began performing motor stable duties while the officers gathered for their daily briefing in the orderly room. Inside the orderly room was a grenade. It had been carelessly left in one of the company’s 5-ton military trucks and was retrieved the day before by one of the officers during a secure vehicle search. According to an account by one of the staff present during the briefing, 1LT Doten was playfully tossing the grenade in the air when the pin somehow came out. Panic swept the room and an explosion ensued. Several of the officers were injured, three seriously, including 1LT Doten. The blast was heard in the motor pool where the men were working. Initially, they thought it was a rocket attack until they noticed smoke coming from the orderly room. They raced to the room and found a scene of carnage. The force of the explosion had blown the company commanding officer, CAPT Don Mann, and another officer through a door to the ground outside. The company didn’t have a medic, so the men did what they could to help until the medivac arrived. Three of the officers, including CAPT Mann and 1LT Doten, were placed in the helicopter for a flight to a Cam Ranh Bay medical facility. It was during this flight that 1LT Doten succumbed to his injuries. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Herman Gallegos (Mil. Ret.)]