THE WALL OF FACES

Private First Class Andres Armando R. Gomez, Served with the 57th Assault Helicopter Company, 52nd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade, United States Army Vietnam.

We will be honoring Andres Armando R. Gomez and other Vietnam fallen heroes from California Congressional District-46. If you would like to participate in the March 29, 2019 ceremony, please call Congressman Lou Correa's District Office at (714) 559 6190.

Dear PFC Andres Gomez,
Thank you for your service as a Huey, UH-1 Helicopter Repairer, door gunner/ Your 51st anniversary is soon, sad. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 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.

Under the cover of darkness on January 10, 1968, North Vietnamese Army forces crept into Kotum Airfield in the Central Highlands in Kotum Province, RVN, and destroyed several aircraft, killed six Americans, and wounded 21 others. Between 2:04 to 2:35 AM, the enemy breached the perimeter and conducted a raid on the airfield with B-40 rockets, small arms fire, and satchel charges. The lost Americans included SP4 Loyde D. Armor, SP4 Thomas Carpenter Jr., PFC Richard D. Devine Jr., PFC Andres A. Gomez, PFC Robert W. Muncy, and SP4 Robert Pfeister. Seven UH-1H helicopters were destroyed, eight others damaged, and eight trucks damaged. At least five NVA were killed during the attack, some reportedly by explosions from their own satchel charges. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, redwarriors.us, and Pacific Stars & Stripes, January 11, 1968]

I was with the 2/1 Cavalry and on guard duty the night of 1/10/68 the night of the attack on Kontum Airfield. We had no way to direct contact that night and could not report the noise of digging on a small trail that ran close to our position. When I was relieved about 2:00 am I told my replacement of the noise that sounded of digging. I was headed to the como bunker to report what I heard but the attack started. We killed 5 V.C. and about a dozen that could be seen with the flares and explosions going on. When the light of morning came we found about the deaths at the airfield. The only way I could warned the airfield to be alerted was for me to leave my position early and open our company to a same type attack. I continue to feel the guilt for the 6 that died and if I should left my post.