THE WALL OF FACES

Petty Officer Billy Stanley Armstrong, Served aboard PCF-19 (Patrol Craft Fast 19), Coastal Division 12 (COSDIV-12), Task Force 115 (TF-115), United States Naval Forces Vietnam (USNAVFORV).

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt, "Citizen in a Republic", April 23, 1910

Just past midnight on June 16, 1968, the U.S. Navy Swift Boat PCF-19 from Coast Guard Division 12, Task Force 115, was attacked from the air, struck by two missiles and sunk. Four of her crew members were killed, and two others badly injured. A Vietnamese Navy (VNN) petty officer was also killed. The lost crewmen included GMC2 Billy S. Armstrong, QM2 Frank Bowman, BM2 Anthony G. Chandler, and EN2 Edward C. Cruz. Bowman’s remains were not recovered and he is still carried as Missing in Action. The boat had been patrolling with PCF-12 near the DMZ (17th parallel) when they were attacked by hovering aircraft. PCF-12 commenced a running gun battle, firing its .50 caliber machine guns and zig zagging at high speed for well over an hour. During this battle, PCF-12 continuously radioed that it was under attack by an unidentified hovering aircraft. Response from command was "no friendly aircraft in the area". In order to isolate the problem, U.S. Forces suspended all flying operations within PCF-12's area of operation. Despite this measure, PCF-12 continued to be engaged with the enemy. The following day, a friendly-fire incident occurred when U.S. jet aircraft accidentally attacked the Australian destroyer HMAS Hobart and the heavy cruiser Boston. U.S. rocket fire killed two Australian sailors and injured eleven others, while slightly damaging the Hobart and the Boston. Parts of the rockets were later recovered and were identified as American. After all reports had been submitted, the attacks on the two allied warships were attributed to friendly-fire from U.S. fixed-wing aircraft. The attacks on PCF-19 and PCF-12 were also attributed to friendly fire from these aircraft. A primary feature in the confusion was that the attack upon the Swift Boats and the unidentified hovering aircraft started between midnight and 1:00 AM on June 16th, and the attacks on the Boston and Hobart occurred during the same time the following day, June 17th. However, these were two separate dates, and two separate incidents. When the reports were completed these two events were conflated, and both were attributed to friendly fire. It has been theorized by both officers and men of the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy that the North Vietnamese Army were operating helicopters at Tiger Island, located just off the North Vietnamese coast. Hovering aircraft had been seen near the DMZ by U.S. Marines on shore. Declassified official reports note "enemy aircraft" did in fact operate in the area. Enough evidence is present to conclude that the loss of PCF-19 was due to fire from a helicopter aircraft operated by or for the North Vietnamese. As of 2006, the attack upon PCF-12 and PCF-19 is still regarded by the U.S. Navy as a friendly-fire incident. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and wikipedia.org]

DEAR GUNNER'S MATE ARMSTRONG,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A NAVY GUNNER'S MATE. REST IN PEACE.

Dear GMC2 Billy Stanley Armstrong, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter