THE WALL OF FACES

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.

During June 7-16, 1968, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines were placed under operational control of the 7th Marines and conducted operations south and west of Hill 55 in Quang Nam Province, RVN, in conjunction with Operation Mameluke Thrust. The objective of the operation was to preempt a second enemy offensive against the Da Nang area. The Mameluke Thrust Area of Operations extended south to the An Hoa area. On June 7th, the 1/26 Marines met a North Vietnamese Army battalion at the hamlet My Loc (2), three miles northeast of An Hoa. Alpha Company was on the right, Delta Company on the left, and Charlie Company in the middle, about 200 yards back. The weather was hot and exhausting. During fighting on 7th, both Alpha and Delta Companies were hit hard. The Delta Company advance had the 2nd Platoon on the left flank, 3rd Platoon advancing up a small ridge line, and 1st Platoon sweeping a village on the right. The company command post was behind 3rd platoon. About 10 AM that morning, the NVA attacked 3rd Platoon's lead squad which had gotten inside the enemy's camouflaged positions. The enemy opened up with automatic weapons at close range from a trench line. Elements of 3rd Platoon counterattacked the enemy, killing all five NVA in the trench. Delta Company sustained casualties including two Marines killed, 2LT Samuel J. Hannah and LCPL David O. Auen. The fighting then became widespread. Alpha Company was to the right and ahead of Delta and they took fire when they entered a tree line and became heavily engaged. All of Delta Company platoons came under fire. Second Platoon assaulted through the tree line and relieved the pressure on third platoon. The Company regrouped while casualties were medevacked. Charlie Company had moved up to support Delta and sent one platoon by helicopter over to help Alpha Company in its actions. Charlie Company was ordered to secure the area around the landing zone. About noon, as Delta Company got ready to move out again, snipers opened up from the direction away from a nearby tree line. The company held its position and an artillery fire mission was called in. The NVA then opened up on the company with heavy automatic weapons fire from positions in the tree line. Third Platoon was hit hard again, and the attack resulted in many Marine casualties. Delta Company with attached units engaged the NVA and the enemy was forced to pull back as sustained artillery and air strikes were called in. That evening, the 1st Platoon was pulled up on a ridge with 2nd and 3rd Platoons. During the day’s engagement twenty-three Marines and two Naval personnel were lost. They included from A Company: PFC Michael P. Becker, LCPL Edward L. Bradford, PFC Jerry N. Christman, SGT Thomas R. Cores II, LCPL Kevin M. Coyne, SSGT Donald M. Cuff, CPL George A. Essary, CPL Jerome D. Kupperschmidt, 2LT Paul M. McGrath, PFC Carl M. Middlebrooks, PFC Gary R. Ralph, CPL Gregory A. Shelley, PFC Alton L. Staples III, LCPL Michael W. Travis, and PFC Ernest L. Wesley; from C Company: CPL David E. Dixon; from D Company: CPL Normand C. Deschaine, CPL Johnnie B. Espy, 2LT Samuel J. Hannah, LCPL David Knox, LCPL John A. Scarpinato, and LCPL Kenneth G. Watson; embedded with the 1/26 Marines from Headquarters & Service Company Navy corpsmen HN Ronald E. Rockefeller and HM3 Ramon Leyba. 2LT Hannah was awarded the Silver Star (Posthumously) for his actions and valor on June 7, 1968. SGT Clark L. Henson Jr., who was killed in later action on June 16, 1968, was also awarded the Silver Star (Posthumously) for his actions and valor on June 7th. Enemy casualties were heavy and his objective of gaining close approach to Da Nang was once again denied. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and togetherweserved.com]

Corporal George Arthur Essary, Served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

Dear Cpl George Essary,
Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. It is important for us to remember all of you. 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.

Dear George, Although I was born and raised in Chattanooga and attended Chattanoga City High School I didn't know you. My brother, Lonnie Floyd also attended City High School and would have grauated with the class of '65 had he not joined the Army his senior year. He served with C/4/503 173rd ABN and KIA 1-14-67. I know you two are in Heaven together. Thank you George and all of the many thousands of young men who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. You all will never be forgotten. Rest in peace. I wish I had known you or your family.

Sincerely,
Brenda Floyd Underwood