THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. Your Silver Star citation attests to your courage and devotion to your fellow soldiers. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal [then Private First Class] Leroy James Fasching, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Company C, 2d Battalion (Airmobile), 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), in the Republic of Vietnam. Private First Class Fasching distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 April 1970 at Fire Base ILLINGSWORTH, Republic of Vietnam. While in heavy contact, and ammunition was needed critically, he moved across an open area to carry ammunition back to his comrades. His gallant action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
See https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/109470

Fire Support Base Illingworth was a U.S. Army firebase located twenty-one miles northwest of Tay Ninh, approximately three miles from the Cambodian border. On April 1, 1970, the base was occupied by Companies C and E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry; B Battery, 5th Battalion, 2nd Artillery; A Battery, 1st Battalion, 30th Artillery; A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Artillery; and B Battery, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery, comprising roughly 220 men. Ground surveillance radar detected strong movement outside the perimeter right before midnight, and at approximately 2:17 AM the North Vietnamese Army began pounding the base with over 300 rounds of mixed 122mm and 107mm rockets, 120mm, 82mm, and 60mm mortars, and 75mm recoilless rifle and B-40 rocket-propelled grenade rounds. Illingworth was then assaulted by a force of over 400 troops from the southwest. The enemy was engaged with unit weapons, artillery, aerial rocket artillery, night-illuminated “Nighthawk” attack helicopter sorties, and other air support. Fighting was fierce, particularly on the southwest portion of the firebase where friendly forces engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat in order to repel the assault. During the attack, an ammunition dump containing over 190 rounds of 8” ammunition exploded in a tremendous blast, destroying an 8” artillery gun and damaging radio antennas, rendering a temporary loss of communication. At 3:30 AM, the base was still receiving mortar and rocket fire although the ground attack had been broken. All incoming fire ceased at 4:30 AM, and search operations began. The attack resulted in twenty-five U.S. killed and fifty-eight wounded. The lost Americans included CPL Bobby L. Barker, PFC Thomas R. Bowen, CPT Cleaveland F. Bridgman, CPL Billy P. Carlisle, SSG Benjamin V. Childress Jr., SGT David G. Dragosavac, CPL Leroy J. Fasching, SGT Syriac Hebert Jr., SGT Robert A. Hill, SGT Kenneth R. Hodge, SGT Robert H. Lane Jr., SP4 David H. Lassen, CPL Nathan J. Mann, PFC Roger J. McInerny Jr., SP4 Thomas J. Murphy, CPL Michael R. Patterson, SGT Sidney E. Plattenburger, SGT Gerald W. Purdon, SP4 Terry L. Schell, CPL Klaus D. Schlieben, CPL John L. Smith, SGT Brent A. Street, SSG Lawrence E. Sutton, SGT Casey O. Waller, and SSG Steven J. Williams. Sixty-five NVA were killed and numerous weapons and equipment were captured. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Operational Report, Lessons Learned 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) for the Period Ending 30 April 1970” at ttu.edu]

I still remember the day my girlfriend Deanna told me you had died in the war. She was so sad, and we as 6-year-olds we were trying to make sense of the "why. "

I also remember 18 years later in my early 20s visiting the wall in DC and suddenly remembering I knew of someone who would be listed - you. Kind of miraculously I remembered your last name because of my mother keeping your family's name alive in the stories of her growing up in Wibaux. I still have the rubbing of your name.

I am so sorry you had to die in Vietnam. Your life and the loss of it made the reality of the war personal to me, and for that I am grateful.

Peace.

Dear Cpl Leroy Fasching,
Thank you for your service as an Infantryman with the 1st Cavalry. Another national holiday is coming, and we honor you this Labor Day. 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.