THE WALL OF FACES

PFC Douglas E. Atwood was a pioneer serving with C Battery, 2nd Battalion, 33rd Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, U.S. Army Republic of Vietnam. A “pioneer” was a military occupation specialty where a soldier performs engineering and construction tasks. Atwood’s unit, the 33rd Artillery Regiment, was deployed in support of 1st Infantry Division combat operations in Military Region III. The 33rd provided fire support, illumination, and harassment and interdiction fire programs. On October 9, 1967, Atwood was with elements of his unit at a location eleven miles (6.8 miles) southeast of Minh Thanh Airfield in Binh Long Province when he was injured in an accidental discharge incident. Reportedly, another soldier was handling a .45 pistol during an early morning weapons inspection when the handgun fired. The errant round struck Atwood in the abdomen. He was transported in critical condition to the 93rd Evacuation Hospital on Long Binh Post. Despite the best efforts of medical staff in saving his life, they were unable to stem the blood loss, and Atwood succumbed to cardiac arrest shortly after being admitted. He was 21 years. [Sourced at coffeltdatabase.org]

Image courtesy of Redbird Research LLC, Saint Charles, MO.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. And a special thanks to the students of Gridley High School for their efforts to honor our heroes.

Private First Class Douglas Edward Atwood, Served with Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 33rd Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

PFC Douglas E. Atwood was assigned to C Battery, 2nd Battalion, 33rd Artillery, 1st Infantry Division. PFC Atwood’s military occupation specialty labeled him a “Pioneer,” a soldier employed to perform engineering and construction tasks. On October 9, 1967, Atwood died in Binh Long Province, RVN, as the result of a gunshot wound after he was accidently shot by another individual during a weapons inspection. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]