THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. We should be forever thankful for the sacrifices of you and so many others to ensure the freedoms we so often take for granted.

Private First Class John Lawrence Gambrell, Served with Company B, 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

John.........Honoring You on your birthday...Never forgotten....God Bless

Dear PFC John Gambrell,
Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. It has been too long, and it's about time for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

PFC John L. Gambrell was an infantryman serving with 2nd Platoon, B Company, 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. In early 1967, 4/39th Infantry was based at Bearcat Base near the city of Bien Hoa, RVN, and conducted search and destroy and pacification missions from their base camp. On February 20, 1967, 2nd Platoon was on a reconnaissance patrol in the immediate area around Bearcat, searching for Viet Cong mortar placements or any other enemy activity. The area around the base was considered a “free-fire zone,” where any unidentified person was considered an enemy combatant. During the patrol, what appeared to be Vietnamese wood choppers with an oxcart were sighted down a trail. Members of Gambrell’s patrol fired on the assumed hostile force. Next, either the Platoon Sergeant or Platoon Leader called in an artillery mission on the enemy position. The rounds, fired from Bearcat, fell near the Americans, impacting behind their location. Several persons were wounded, including Gambrell, who was critically injured after being hit by metal fragments in his back and neck. The RTO (radioman) also suffered a serious wound to his right buttocks. His radio was also destroyed by fragments from the errant rounds. However, fortunately for the platoon, they had a second radio, and were able to call in a check (cease) fire. A medivac was requested, and the wounded were picked up. Gambrell was taken to the U.S. Army 3rd Field Hospital in Saigon where he later expired. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Clyde Raines (September 2018)]