THE WALL OF FACES

Corporal Ronald Eugene Gerten, Served with the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, Americal Division, United States Army Vietnam.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever…..

CPL Ronald Eugene Gerten is buried at Brookside Cemetery in Tecumseh, MI.

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

"Greater love hath no man, than that man lay down his life for a friend."

HOOAH, Doc...You did good.

On New Year’s Eve 1970, F Troop, 17th Cavalry, an armored vehicle unit, was conducting a dismounted patrol near Tam Ky in Quang Tin Province, RVN. At approximately 1:35 PM, two troopers were seriously wounded when an enemy booby-trap was detonated. Two aidmen, PFC Ronald E. Gerten and PFC Ira E. Gibbs, rushed to help their injured comrades. They provided treatment while under fire and directed the withdrawal of the men. Gerten and Gibbs continued to treat the wounded while enemy rounds impacted around them. Two minutes after the first blast, as the casualties were being moved towards a wood line, Gibbs hit a trip wire triggering another booby-trap. Two 81mm mortar rounds buried in the ground erupted in a violent explosion, the blast creating a hole 18” x 18”. Both Gibbs and Gerten were mortally wounded, and seven others were injured. Another trooper, SP4 John J. Orsini, was also killed by one of the booby-traps. Gerten was posthumously promoted to Corporal. Both he and Gibbs received the Silver Star medal for gallantry in action. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and PFC Gerten’s Silver Star citation; and “Mother Receives Son’s 2 Medals.” The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN), June 24, 1971]

Thank you Corporal Gerten for your exemplary courage under fire and your devotion to us.