THE WALL OF FACES

My Uncle Larry was one of the three men killed. I hope they are all together watching over us all.

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 sun 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.

As long as you are remembered you will never die...

On June 5, 1967, Third Platoon, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division was running a search and destroy mission along Highway QL-1 in Quang Ngai Province, RVN. Primarily a function of denying the enemy the opportunity to operate freely, Third Platoon was also providing security for an engineer party assigned to repair National Route 1A (Highway QL-1). Around mid-afternoon, the platoon began crossing a bridge three miles northwest of Duc Pho. As the point element neared the end of the span, an enormous explosion occurred. The blast caused a massive upsurge of water to rise from the river as an estimated 250 lb. bomb was detonated from just beneath its surface. Three members of the point element were killed instantly, their bodies torn to pieces and thrown into the water. Another six to eight were wounded from shrapnel and road material, several of them also tossed into river. The rest of the 25-man platoon were soaked by water, many covered in mud, and most suffering from a temporary hearing loss. Chaos reigned initially as Third Platoon tried to regain its bearings. Medivacs were called and soon began landing on the adjacent road. Those tossed in the river were recovered, and remains of the three KIA’s were collected. When order was reestablished, more helicopters arrived, and the shaken troopers were flown to LZ Liz. Within half an hour, Vietnamese civilians began using the bridge, undaunted by a large chunk of roadway taken out of one of the lanes. In the following days, a Navy diving team searched for missing equipment lost in the river; one M60 machine gun was never found. Several weeks later, while back at Duc Pho Base Camp, a memorial service was held in honor of 2nd Battalion’s fallen troopers, including the three killed in the bridge explosion: PFC John M. Astley, PFC Edward A. Cabrera, and PFC Larry D. Good. Cabrera was posthumously promoted to Corporal. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Report, U.S. Army, 2nd Battalion 35th Infantry - Operational Report for Quarterly Period ending 31 July 1967 - Operation Baker, 01 May to 31 July 1967” at ttu.edu; also, information provided by Tom Connors (March 2020)]

Private First Class John Michael Astley, Served with the 3rd Platoon, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

DEAR PFC ASTLEY,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS AN ARMY GRUNT. MY SON WAS BORN ON YOUR ANNIVERSARY. REST IN PEACE.