THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Hickory (May 18-28, 1967) was a search and destroy operation conducted by the 3rd Marine Division in the area around Con Thien known as “Leatherneck Square” in Quang Tri Province, RVN. Operation Hickory was notable as the first authorized incursion into the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). By the time Hickory concluded, the Marines had suffered 142 killed and 896 wounded, and claimed 362 North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regulars killed. All participating forces then joined Operation Prairie IV with continued sweeps of Leatherneck Square and the area southwest of Con Thien. On May 28th, the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines made heavy contact with the NVA in bunkers on Hill 174, approximately four miles from Con Thien. Two Companies, M and L, attacked the enemy fortifications late in the afternoon. While moving up the north finger of Hill 117, Company L received a heavy volume of small arms, automatic weapons, 57mm recoilless rifle, and 82mm mortar fire. The Marines fought back with small arms, automatic weapons, M79, and M72 LAW light anti-tank weapon, and 3.5-inch rocket fire. Two Company L personnel were killed in the fighting; another two died an hour later when their overnight position was hit by nine rounds of 120mm rocket fire. The lost Marines included PFC Walter L. Babbitt Jr., SGT Donald L. Crane, PFC Ted L. Edwards, and PFC Michael D. Withrow. Twenty-five others were wounded. Six NVA were confirmed dead and one 57mm recoilless rifle was destroyed. Artillery was placed on the Hill 117 throughout the night, and the next day Companies M and I attacked. They suffered five killed and thirty-three wounded without driving the NVA from the crest of the hill. The lost M-3/4 Marines included PFC Dennis R. Glenn, LCPL Frank E. Hardy, CPL Willard S. Prescott, and PFC Armand R. Thouvenell; also killed was Navy corpsman HM3 Charles H. Crawford. Crawford was posthumously presented the Navy Cross for heroism. Companies M and I attacked unsuccessfully again on May 30th, suffering one killed from I-3/4, LCPL Noel J. Feliciano, with 45 wounded. The NVA abandoned the hill during the night of May 30th-31th. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “U.S. Marines in Vietnam: Fighting the North Vietnamese 1967” by Telfer, Rogers, and Fleming]

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.

May those who served never be forgotten. Rest in peace LCPL. Feliciano, I salute your brave soul. My heart goes out to you and your family. Semper Fidelis!

Lance Corporal Noel Jesus Feliciano, Served with Company I, 3rdBattalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

To Jesus' family,
I will never forget his bravery on that terrible day - many were wounded, but Jesus kept firing until he was struck by one NVA bullet that took his life . . . his squad and I carried him out (never leave anyone behind) down the trail to the choppers . . . he didn't have a chance on that day . . . but, the Marines of India Company 3/4 that survived will never forget you . . . Your friend, Doc