THE WALL OF FACES

During the late summer of 1968, the 4th Infantry Division conducted reconnaissance and surveillance of the Cambodian border in Military Region II to block enemy infiltration routes from both Cambodia and Laos across the Central Highlands into the coastal provinces. The Division was tasked with destroying North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong units and conducted spoiling attacks on enemy base areas and supply installations. At 6:20 PM on August 14th, during combat operations near Fire Support Base 29, seven kilometers (4.3 miles) southwest of Ben Het village in Kontum Province, RVN, the 3rd and 4th platoons of A Company, 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment received a heavy weapons attack which included 75mm recoilless rifle and 82mm mortar fire. A U.S. Air Force Forward Air Controller flying close air support for the besieged U.S. units received heavy ground fire and was forced to return to Dak To with three hits on his aircraft. The Americans suffered heavy losses in the contact with fourteen killed. The lost personnel included (from A -3/12) PFC Robert I. Brown, SP4 Pedro J. Camacho-Rodriguez, SGT Raymond L. Daniels, PFC Roy L. Edelstein, 1LT Leo L. Hadley, PFC Scott D. Henry, SP4 Gary Lee Maloy, SP4 John Bruce Mularz, PFC Steve D. Lee, PFC Bobby L. Riley, PFC Francis A. Schwarz, and SFC Henryk T. Sulatycki; (from HHC-3/12) medic SP4 Robert J. Santoro; and (from B Btry, 6th Bn, 29th Arty) forward observer 1LT Daniel L. Neuburger. Brown and Henry were posthumously promoted to Corporal. Enemy losses were not reported. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, virtualwall.org, and “Operational Report of the 4th Infantry Division for Period Ending 31 October 1968” at ttu.edu]

Private First Class Roy L. Edelstein, Served with Company A, 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

John you will always be remembered. Your class of 1965 made sure you had a full military salute by the American Legion for our 50th class reunion. Thank you for your service for our freedom. Michael G. Okash

At every major or yearly mini reunion, we hold a Memorial Service to honor and remember you and all classmates who have gone before us. Thank you for your service. You will never be forgotten.

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 sunlight 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.