THE WALL OF FACES

Through my first 5 grades in elementary school, I grew up on the same block in Granite City as Ray Dowdy. We played ball, rode bikes, flipped baseball cards, listened to the Cardinals almost every day. He was killed in combat one year after we graduated from high school.

Task Force Oregon was a U.S. Army division-sized unit composed of three separate infantry brigades active in Quang Ngai and Quang Tin Provinces, RVN, from April to September 1967 before it was redesignated the 23rd Infantry Division (Americal). The Task Force Oregon plan involved the movement of the Army units to Duc Pho and Chu Lai to allow the 1st Marine Division to move north to Da Nang to support the 3rd Marine Division in northern I Corps. The task force comprised 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, and 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. During May, the large Viet Cong (VC) local forces operating in the 196th Light Infantry Brigade area of responsibility generally avoided large scale contacts with the American unit. Most contacts were with platoon-size or smaller VC elements. On the early morning of May 3rd, a patrolling D Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment with a section of the battalion command element received 20-30 rounds of automatic weapons fire seven kilometers (4.3 miles) northeast of Binh Son in Quang Ngai Province. The Americans returned fire with unit weapons and were supported by helicopter gunships. Following the engagement, a sweep of the battle area located two dead VC. Two U.S. M1 carbine rifles were captured along with miscellaneous web gear. Identification of the enemy unit was not made. U.S. losses included one killed, mortarman PFC James R. Dowdy. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Operational Report - Lessons Learned, Headquarters, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Period Ending 31 July 1967” at archive.org]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your sister Angie is moving. May you rest in eternal peace.

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.

Dear PFC James Dowdy,
Thank you for your service as an Indirect Fire Infantryman. 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.