THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from fellow soldier Charlie Allford is moving and reflects his admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

May those who served never be forgotten. Rest in peace SP4. Fenner, I salute your brave soul. My heart goes out to you and your family.

I visited your Grave today, I cleaned and restored Honor to your Marker as it should be. A Flag was placed, TAPS were played, and a Slow Hand Salute rendered. Rest in Peace my Brother, we will always have your 6. Mission Restore Bronze Indiana.

Specialist Four Mark William Fenner, Served with Company C, 19th Engineer Battalion, 45th Engineer Group, 18th Engineer Brigade, United States Army Vietnam Engineer Command, United States Army Vietnam.

On May 24, 1969, engineers from C Company, 19th Engineer Battalion, were conducting a mine sweep on Highway QL-1 in Quang Ngai Province, RVN, when they were ambushed by the Viet Cong approximately two miles northeast of the city of Tam Quan. The assault on the convoy began at 6:20 AM when the engineers were attacked with automatic weapons, small arms, M79, and B-40 rocket fire. The rockets hit several of the engineer’s vehicles including a ¾-ton truck, a 5-ton dump truck, an ambulance, and two M42 40 mm “Duster” tracked-vehicles. The engineers dismounted their vehicles and returned fire. Five men assaulted the VC in a tree line 50 yards east of the road. Four of them died in the attempt. The VC then came from the tree line and overran the dump truck hit by the rocket and killed one American and captured one M16 and three M14 rifles. A reaction force arrived at 6:55 AM and stabilized the situation. One crewmen of a Duster, SGT Stephen L. Mc Carvel, was killed, and two others wounded after rockets hit their tracked vehicle. The rocket which struck the ¾-ton truck wounded five, and another two Americans were wounded by small arms and automatic weapons fire. The five lost engineers were SP4 Mark W. Fenner, PVT Elmer E. Fields, PFC David A. Hargens, SP4 Gary A. Neavor, and SP4 Stanley Turner. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]