THE WALL OF FACES

Lance Corporal Larry Clay Dye, Served with Company A, 7th Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

Hill 327 was located on a ridge two miles southwest of Da Nang Air Base in Quang Nam Province, RVN. Nicknamed “Division Ridge,” it was the headquarters for the 1st Marine Division. On the early morning of March 28, 1967, some Marines from A Company, 7th Engineer Battalion were conducting a refresher course before heading out to clear a minefield. The commanding officer (CO) of A Company decided that the engineers should be shown how to disarm a mine. This, on reflection to those present, seemed pointless as enemy mines located by patrolling Marines were never disarmed, and instead, blown in place. No Viet Cong devices were available, so an armed U.S.-made M16A2 “Bouncing Betty” bounding anti-personnel mine was used. During the demonstration, the mine accidently detonated, killing thirteen Marines and wounding one. The lost personnel included LCPL Thomas C. Bekiempis, LCPL Stanley Davidheiser Jr., LCPL Larry C. Dye, PFC Otis R. Ellis Jr., LCPL Anthony Hawkins, CPL Daniel R. Laird, 2LT Glenn M. McCarthy, LCPL Eugene J. Payne III, CPL Ronald W. Porter, CPL Glenn W. Shafer, LCPL Don L. Shockley, CPL Howard S. Stevens, and CPL Verrell D. Stiles. The dead were loaded onto a M35 6×6 cargo truck and transported to a Marine medical dispensary for later transfer to Graves Registration. Two days after the incident, the CO was relieved of his command. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Classroom Mine Kills 13.” Pacific Stars & Stripes, March 30, 1967; also, information provided by Terry Moser (October 2001) at thewall-usa.com]

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed...
We feel lucky to have seen it.

Larry and I joined the Marines together, was remembering his today when I found this site. Semper Fi my friend May God Rest Us One and ALL.

Dear Lcpl Larry Dye,
Thank you for your service as a Combat Engineer. Yesterday was Independence Day, and we remember your sacrifice. 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.