THE WALL OF FACES

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

Steven Charles Erbentraut
Private First Class
B CO, 2ND BN, 5TH CAVALRY, 1ST CAV DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Springfield, Massachusetts
May 23, 1948 to March 09, 1969

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

On March 8, 1969, B Company 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) was searching for enemy infiltrating in large units from Cambodia towards Saigon west of the Vam Co Dong River in an area referred to as the “Angel’s Wing.” In the late afternoon, they were picked up by six Huey UH-1 helicopters and relocated to a large clearing near a known infiltration route close to the Cambodian border. After a short patrol, the company stopped to break for supper and rest. That evening, 1st and 2nd Platoon were sent out for ambush duty. After moving for about twenty minutes, the 27-strong 2nd Platoon set up in an uninhabited area of dry rice paddies and irrigation ditches. They put out Claymore mines and trip flares and assigned night watch duties. At approximately 10:00 PM, two North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers approached their position. An illumination flare was ignited, and the enemy fled with no shots fired. Their position now known to the NVA, the platoon leader doubled watches for the rest of the night. At 12:37 AM, six approaching enemy soldiers were observed with a Starlight night scope. An artillery mission was requested and began firing three minutes later. The Americans opened up with unit weapons and took no casualties. At 3:16 AM, mortar rounds and rocket fire from a nearby wood line began falling on 2nd Platoon’s position. After suffering several killed and wounded, the men moved into the irrigation ditches where they observed lines of NVA moving to towards them. The enemy, estimated at 150-200, began to surround platoon, utilizing fire and maneuver tactics to get closer. Low on ammunition, the platoon fired only single, well-aimed shots. Air support came on station, providing some relief for the besieged platoon. By dawn, the contact slowed as the NVA withdrew with their dead back to Cambodia. Shortly after, 1st Platoon from A Company arrived and linked up without resistance. Six 2nd Platoon members were killed in the battle with sixteen wounded. The lost troopers included SP4 Leon Beard, CPL Michael P. O’Connor, PFC Steven C. Erbentraut, PFC Douglas N. Rowe, PFC David J. Horden, and PFC Donald L. Shirley. Enemy losses were placed at one hundred dead. The company was picked up by helicopters and returned to base camp where they were served a hot breakfast. O’Connor was posthumously promoted to Corporal. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Robert Michalik at penandsaber.com and Steve Pipes (July 2020)]

I wrote this song in November 2019 in memory of my brother Steven. It is also a powerful tribute to all who have sacrificed for this country on the battlefields around the world. May they or their families ever be forgotten.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqksYjuVTNo