THE WALL OF FACES

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

SP4 James W. Gates was a machine gunner serving with 2nd Platoon, A Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. During August 1968, SP4 Gates’ Company was conducting a search and clear operation near the coast in northern Quang Tri Province, RVN. Around noon on August 20, 1968, the Company was lifted by helicopter near a village where one of their scout aircraft had been fired on by a hostile ground force. The Company got in line and began marching towards the village. They crossed a rice paddy and filed around a berm line when they walked into a North Vietnamese Army ambush. The attackers opened fire at the Americans at nearly point-blank range. Gates responded by laying down a deadly base of M60 machine gun fire as the others crawled back to the berm. His squad members yelled, “Get back Gates, come on!”, but Gates poured it on and was credited with saving the members of his squad, all of whom were able to safely retreat. After withdrawing across a wide ride paddy near a road, they began digging in, shoveling dirt to create fighting holes. A 9th Infantry armored unit unexpectedly appeared and formed up near A Company’s position. While both units were preparing defensive positions, a huge explosion suddenly occurred when a 175mm artillery round, possibly fired from a U.S. naval destroyer offshore, landed nearby. Metal fragment ripped through the American’s position, killing three and wounding several others. The dead included Gates and two armor crewmen, SFC Clarence Fulton and SP4 Donald R. Sizemore. Four of the injured required evacuation for treatment of their wounds. Sizemore was posthumously promoted to Sergeant. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Gregory Fischer (January 2019)]

Dear Sp4 James Gates,
Thank you for your service as an Infantryman with the 1st Cavalry. Happy Thanksgiving. 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.

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.

My name is Krysteen Wescott and I am the daughter of Sgt 1st class Robert H Wescott Jr. It meant a lot to me to find your picture. Your friend Greg sent it to me. You are remembered