THE WALL OF FACES

SP4 Valentine Dwornik graduated from Cody High School, Detroit MI, Class of 1966.

In the first half of 1969, three companies of the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion and the 15th Light Equipment Company defended the big American base and air strip at Dak To, RVN, against the North Vietnamese Army’s 66th Infantry Regiment and 40th Artillery Regiment. From January through July of 1969, some six hundred bulldozer drivers, crane and front-end loader operators, mechanics, medics, cooks, clerks, truck drivers, and other non-infantry men defended the rugged, jungle-covered mountain in the Central Highlands northwest of Kontum near the Laos and Cambodian borders. From May 9 until the second week of July, the NVA shelled the mountain virtually every day with 122mm rockets, 81mm mortar rounds, recoilless rifles, and B-40 rockets. The deadliest single attack took place on May 28, 1969, when a 122mm NVA rocket came screaming directly into the 15th Light Equipment’s headquarters bunker. The heavily sandbagged bunker, sunk some twenty feet in the ground, was crowded with engineers, including a thirty-man reaction force. Nine men, including Company Commander 1LT Franklin L. Koch, were killed. The other lost Americans comprised FSGT Dudley J. Benefiel Jr., SP4 Floyd E. Barber, SP5 James S. Colombero, SP4 Valentine M. Dwornik, SP4 Edward T. Kiezkowski, SP4 David R. Mann, SP4 Dennis R. Meetze, and SFC Luther R. Perkins (who died of his wounds on June 9, 1969). Another nineteen were wounded. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and digitaledition.qwinc.com]

Specialist Four Valentine Marion Dwornik, Served with the 15th Engineer Company, 299th Engineer Battalion, 937th Engineer Group, 18th Engineer Brigade, United States Army Vietnam Engineer Command, United States Army Vietnam.

I don't have any relation to him but I'm 13 and I went to the Newseum and there was an exhibit about the soldiers who had passed away. They had a book of the ones who died and it was flipped to the first page. I looked across it and saw his picture. His smile stood out to me from all the others. It was just so inspiring to see him as one of the only people smiling. He was also so young to die in such a cruel war. God Bless Him for being such a brave and beautiful person he really brightened up my day. Much love, Sadie

Dear SP4 Valentine Marion Dwornik, 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, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter