THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Cousin Raymond,
Thank you for your courage and your sacrifice. We lost you far too early in our lives. I will always remember your smile and your kindness. You made us all proud.

Brenda Griggs
1st cousin

On April 13, 1968, in a no-name operation literally called “No Name No. 2,” the 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine Division ran into two North Vietnamese Army (NVA) companies in a fortified hamlet along a small canal north of QL-1 a few miles east of the Hue Citadel in Thua Thien Province, RVN. At 8:21 AM, B-1/27 received heavy automatic weapons, small arms, rocket-propelled grenade, and mortar fire. Taking casualties, the Marines returned fire and attempted to close with the enemy when they were pinned down. Artillery was called onto the NVA positions as Companies A and D joined the fray. A-1/27 ran into heavy fire from the east while D-1/27’s advance was slowed by mines and booby traps. As A-1/27 closed, enemy fire intensified, halting then pinning them down. Artillery fire failed to suppress the NVA fire. Ontos M50 tracked vehicles were deployed to assist the beleaguered battalion. The Marines continued to return fire and regroup, trying to rescue pinned down elements. At 2:07 PM, a landing zone was established, and casualties were medivacked. When all companies were finally able to withdraw, 26 Marines were dead and 37 wounded with a reported 62 enemy killed. The following day, Easter Sunday, the Marines retrieved their dead, bringing them out in ponchos. They were amazed at the enemy's battlefield discipline, noting the NVA had gathered up all their spent cartridges from the trench where they fought for five hours against the Marines. Despite reporting dozens of dead, the Marines found only two enemy bodies. The lost U.S. personnel included: (from A-1/27) SSGT Glennis R. Kellams (posthumously awarded the Silver Star), CPL Kenneth M. Watson, LCPL Richard L. Embrey, LCPL Stephen J. Hinds, PFC Raymond Armstrong, PFC Frank W. Atherton, PFC Robert C. Healey, PFC Kenneth L. Hinnant, PFC Larry C. Hopper, PFC Jerry A. Snipes; (from B-1/27) 2LT Alan A. Kettner, CPL James E. Hodge, LCpl Terry L. Fuhrman, (died of wounds 04/14/1968), LCpl Alfred V. Whitmer, PFC Roger A. Boomsma, PFC Douglas L. Long, PFC Barry D. Lord, PFC Paul L. Whitthorne, PFC William W. Wilson, PVT Ray T. Comfort; (from C-1/27) CPL Joseph C. Reid, PFC Donald L. Mansfield, and PFC William G. Parker; (from H&S-1/27) SSGT Fred J. Hayes (posthumously awarded the Silver Star); and Navy corpsmen HN3 Robert L. Dodsworth and HN Richard E. Cawley. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, virtualwall.org, and “U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Defining Year, 1968” by Shulimson, Blasiol, Smith, and Dawson]

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

Never forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

As long as you are remembered you will always be with us.