THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Auburn (December 28, 1967 – January 3, 1968) was a U.S. Marine Corps operation on Go Noi Island located 15.5 miles south of Da Nang and west of National Route QL-1, and in the area directly north of the island nicknamed “Dodge City” by the Marines due to frequent ambushes and firefights there. The areas were a Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese Army (NVA) stronghold and base area. While the island was relatively flat, small hamlets were linked by hedges with concealed paths providing a strong defensive network. The operational plan called for four Marine infantry Companies to establish blocking positions along the railway tracks on Go Noi Island while an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) force swept west, pushing the NVA/VC against the Marine positions. Following a preparatory air and artillery bombardment, at 9:04 AM on December 28th, Marine helicopters started landing Company E, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines at Landing Zone Hawk. The Marines were met with small arms fire coming from Bao An Dong village west of the landing zone. As they advanced on the village, they were hit by heavy fire and withdrew to allow for airstrikes on the enemy positions.  Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines and the command group arrived at the landing zone by 11:30 AM, Company I quickly securing a nearby hamlet while Company E remained engaged at Bao An Dong. Company I was then sent to support Company E but was stopped by VC hidden in elephant grass. With both companies pinned down, air and artillery support were called in close to the Marine lines. At 3:30 PM, Company M, 3/5 Marines was landed and sent forward to support Company E. At 6:00 PM under the cover of UH-1E gunship fire, Company E withdrew to join up with Company M and established a night defensive position. American losses for the day were 18 dead and 25 wounded. Enemy losses were 32 killed. The lost U.S. personnel included (E, 2/3 Marines) LCpl Patrick E. Anglim, Cpl Robert L. Boyer (Silver Star), Cpl Richard L. Carlson, LCpl Carl E. Chamberlain, Cpl James B. Cox, Pfc Byron A. Gaines Jr. (Silver Star), SSgt Salome T. Hernandez, Pfc Thomas B. Holdbrooks, Pfc Arturo M. Lara, Pfc Ronald J. Streckert, Pfc Ernesto Tarango, and Pfc Herbert O. Zinnel Jr.; (I, 3/5 Marines) 2nd Lt John G. Corr, Pfc B. L. Murphy Jr., and Pfc Charles D. Townsend; (M, 3/5 Marines) Pfc Raymond A. Niedecken; (H&S CO, 2/3 Marines) LCpl Frank Florio; and (H&S CO, 1ST MP BN) Cpl William G. Fraser. [Sourced at coffeltdatabase.org]

So many many years ago we served together in Vietnam . I came home to go on with my life , wife , kids , grandkids and now great grandkids but you never had that chance , you fell in Vietnam and did not make it home to the world . You talked about getting married to your girlfriend when you made it home and when you talked of her your eyes lit up but you never made it to that dream . You were a good guy and I remember you to this day and always think about you each Dec 28th with sadness . You are not forgotten . I made a post to you back in 1999 and just read it again and thinking of you now still makes me sad that you did not make it back to your family and friends . Semper Fi Frank ......Steve Weston

Lance Corporal Frank Florio, Served with the 81 Millimeter Mortar Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

In class we are learning about the Vietnam Era. Our teacher took us to the memorial website and this is how I found Frank. Frank drew me in because of his photo. Frank looked very dashing in his photo. The day we searched for a solider it happened to be Frank's birthday. Thank you Frank for your service!