THE WALL OF FACES

Dear SGT Ronald Francis Fuller, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter

I was just 11 when God called you home. I still remember the day the soldiers came to our house and told mom that you were missing and presumed dead. A moment frozen in time. She gave me your burial flag and the bible you sent her from vietnam....I'll treasure them always and pass them along to the next generation. I'm a grandmother now and I tell my 2 yr. old grandson all about you so that he'll know and appreciate the sacrifice you made for our country and he'll tell his grandson one day. I miss you Ronnie and I know Mom does too. She doesn't talk about you much and when she does you can still see the longing for you in her eyes. She's getting old now and the only peace in that is knowing she'll be able to hold you once again. I love you Ronnie and I miss you everyday still.

Hi, my name is Dana Bartell and I am currently participating in a Vietnam Experience course at Bishop Hendricken High School. This course requires that I research a fallen serviceman from the Vietnam War. If anyone has any information that they would like to share with me about Ronald F. Fuller, it would be deeply appreciated. My E-Mail address is [email protected]. Thank you very much.

DIVISION COMMANDER KILLED IN HELICOPTER CRASH


The 1st Cavalry Division suffered a tragic loss

early in July when the 1st Cavalry Division

Command Helicopter, piloted by Major General

George William Casey, enroute to visit wounded

Skytroopers, crashed in a remote area in

South Vietnam / Laos.


Six members of his personal staff perished with him:


Major

John Alexander Hottell III

Aide-de-Camp


1st Lieutenant

William Frederick Michel

Pilot


Command Sergeant Major

Kenneth William Cooper

Division Sergeant Major


Sergeant

William Lee Christenson

Door Gunner


Sergeant

Ronald Francis Fuller

Crew Chief


Sergeant

Vernon Kenneth Smolik

Aide & Stenographer


General Casey took command of the

1st Cavalry Division, considered the

Army's best, in May, while the division was

engaged in the operation against the communist

sanctuaries in Cambodia.


He served as the Task Force Commander in that

operation.


The Division, the Association, the Army, and

the Nation, lost a dedicated and gallant leader.


As one of the youngest Major Generals in the

United States Army, General Casey was an outstanding

soldier with a bright future.


In the names of the men,

the Association extends deepest sympathy.



Transcribed from -


SABER

Published by and for Veterans of the Famous

1st Cavalry Division ( Airmobile )

Volume 19 - Number 4

July / August 1970




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The following is an excerpt from,

AIRMOBILE:

THE CHANGING WAR IN CAMBODIA, 1969 - 1970


The 1st Cavalry Division operation in Cambodia far exceeded all expectations and proved to be one of the most successful operations in the history of the First Team.

All aspects of ground and air combat were utilized-air cavalry, armor, infantry, and mechanized infantry.

The U.S. Air Force reconnaissance, tactical air, and B-52's performed yeoman duty throughout the campaign there.

This team effort, spearheaded by the airmobile flexibility inherent in the 1st Cavalry, carried the war to the enemy and defeated him in his own backyard.

Major General George W. Casey had taken command of the 1st Cavalry on 12 May from Major General Elvy B. Roberts.

General Roberts, who had been scheduled to turn over command of the division on 3 May, had been extended until 12 May in order to plan, organize, and command the initial phases of the Cambodian operation.

On 6 July 1970, he wrote a letter to his troops summing up the 1st Cavalry's part in the Cambodian Campaign.

Excerpts from the letter are as follows:


The results are impressive. You killed enough of the enemy to man three NVA Regiments; captured or destroyed enough individual and crew-served weapons to equip two NVA Divisions; and denied the enemy an entire year's supply of rice for all of his maneuver battalions in our AO. You captured more rocket, mortar, and recoilless rifle rounds than the enemy fired in all of III Corps during the twelve months preceding our move into Cambodia. And, perhaps most important, by working together in an airmobile team, you disrupted the' enemy's entire supply system, making chaos of his base areas and killing or driving off his rear service personnel.

Only time will tell how long it will take the NVA to recover, but of this you can be sure—you have set the enemy back sufficiently to permit President Nixon's redeployment plan to proceed with safety while assuring that our Vietnamese Allies maintain their freedom. This is your achievement. This is yet another demonstration that you of the 1st Cavalry Division deserve—and have earned again—the accolade of the FIRST TEAM. It is my honor to have served alongside you during this crucial and historic period.


The following day on the morning of 7 July, Major General George W. Casey was enroute to Cam Ranh Bay to visit wounded Sky Troopers in the hospital.

Flying over the rugged mountains of the Central Highlands, General Casey's helicopter entered a thick cloudbank and disappeared from sight.

In the late afternoon of 9 July, the wreckage of the General's helicopter was found.

General Casey and all the officers and men aboard had been killed instantly in the crash.

George had served with me as my Chief of Staff during 1967.

Prior to that he commanded the 2d Brigade under Major General John Norton.

His death was a great personal loss to me and everyone who had served with him.

Major General George W. Putnam, whose 1st Aviation Brigade had been doing a fantastic job in supporting Army of the Republic of Vietnam operations in the Parrot's Beak to the south, was ordered to take command of the 1st Cavalry Division.



27 November 2001

Hi, my name is Christopher O'Connors. For a class which i am taking my senior year in high school, I have been assigned Sgt. Ronald Fuller. My job for this class is to find out as much as I can about this servicemen. However the bigger goal for me is to bring as much honor as i can to his name and what he did. If anyone knew Sgt.Ronald Fuller, and wouldn't mind talking to me about him i would deeply appreciate. My e-mail address is [email protected]. -Christopher O'Connors