THE WALL OF FACES

We were neighbor's on Beaufort avenue in Toledo. I have a memory of Jim babysitting me and my younger siblings a few times. Warm memories of an affable and fun young man. I just volunteered this past weekend for The Wall that Heals that came to our town (Gibsonburg, OH) and looked up his name, and let him know he is not forgotten.

May those who served never be forgotten. Rest in peace PFC. Elchert, I salute your brave soul. My heart goes out to you and your family.

Operation Billings (June 12-26, 1967) was planned and conducted by the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division to destroy elements of the Viet Cong (VC) 271st Regiment, 9th Division which occupied base camp areas north of Phuoc Vinh in Binh Duong Province, RVN. The operation began with 1st Infantry battalions moving progressively north of Phuoc Vinh. Intelligence suggested that the 271st had moved to a large clearing designated Landing Zone (LZ) X-Ray. Third Brigade troops moved from another LZ overland to LZ X-Ray. On the morning of June 17th, the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment entered X-Ray. The 1/16th Infantry established a perimeter in the tree line around the clearing and waited for the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment to arrive. As the first units of 2/28th Infantry appeared, a patrol reported a group of VC approaching from the northwest. At 1:00 PM, the enemy attacked, penetrating the northern and northwestern perimeters before being forced back by artillery and gunship fire. The VC launched a second attack against the southeast perimeter, overrunning the defending platoon, the survivors withdrawing into the center of the perimeter. At 1:45 PM, air strikes forced the VC to withdraw, and they disengaged under cover of a steady mortar barrage. U.S. losses were 36 killed. They included: (B/2/28) PFC Richard A. Anderson, PFC Alan W. Denney, PFC Alan J. Farhat, SGT Bobby Minton, SP4 Michael J. Morrow, PFC Victoriano P. Sosa Jr., PFC James E. Starks, SP5 John H. Stout, and PFC Lloyd C. Wohlford Jr.; (HHC/1/16) PFC William N. Cole, PFC Gary J. Ernst, SP4 Sammy L. Holmes, SP4 Charles W. Hook, 1LT Douglas A. Logan (posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal), PFC Wallace G. Nye, SP4 Martin L. Plotkin, PFC Leroy Reed, and PFC Douglas D. Wallin (died of wounds 08/26/1967); (A/1/16) PFC John A. Brantley, PFC Emanuel K. Brickhouse, PFC Jerry R. Cook, SP4 Guy W. Clinger Jr., PFC Ronald D. Edenfield, PFC James M. Elchert, PFC Robert T. Harris, SGT Edward E. Heyer, SP4 Carl T. Johnson, PFC Charles P. Kelly, PFC Robert S. Maguire, SP4 Howard A. Mucha, SP4 Stephen M. Noggle, SP4 Wayne A. Pettersen, SGT Alan J. Roese, and SGT Frank G. Romo; (B/1/16) PFC Paul E. Kelly Jr. and PFC Edward A. Smith. A search of the immediate area found 226 VC dead. Over the next few days, the Americans found more VC dead, including one assembly area where 35 were found killed by artillery and airstrikes. [Taken from virtualwall.org and wikipedia.org]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. May you rest in eternal peace.

Private First Class James Melvin Elchert, Served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.