THE WALL OF FACES

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

Jim,
Of the group of us from 3rd. BDE HHC transferred to the 1st BDE you were the only one who actually volunteered. Your were the driver for the COL of the 3rd. BDE so you were safe. I understand when word got back to 3rd. BDE Headquarters you had been killed the Col. cried for you.
Think of you often

Jim, things were better when we were at HHC 3rd BDE. Glad I got to know you. Sad that you left us before our old age. I will see you again. Currahee

On December 9, 1965, 101st Airborne Division leaders conducted a field briefing outside of Ben Cat, RVN. Located twenty-five miles from Saigon, the area was the scene of some of the fiercest Viet Cong (VC) resistance of the war up to that time. Five miles to the west, VC forces were reportedly entrenched in the large Michelin Rubber Plantation. The paratroopers assaulted into the plantation by helicopter and swept the area for hostile units. Local Vietnamese guided the Americans to enemy dugouts and tunnels, but no VC forces were located. Throughout the plantation area, troops were deployed in patrols, searching fields, roadside ditches, and thick patches of woods. For hours, the Airborne infantryman searched for the elusive VC. East down National Route QL-13, the VC struck against the Americans when a command detonated mine was discharged against a M35 2-1/2-ton cargo truck, killing five U.S. troops. The lost personnel included (from B Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry) SP4 James R. Bailey, SP4 Benny B. Coe, and SP4 Ralph Shank (died of wounds 12/10/1965); and (from Headquarters Company) SGT Anthony D. Sheffield and SP4 Donald W. Vincent. Army engineer mine sweep teams were deployed immediately to search for further mines. More troops were brought in to broaden the scope of the mission, yet the elusive enemy could not be found. Sporadic sniper fire was received, and the paratroopers responded with mortar fire on suspected enemy positions. Contact with the VC was never established, however, and the operation was called off. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and Department of Defense Staff Film Report 66-2A (1966) at archive.org; Image: Still from Staff Film Report 66-2A shows engineers searching for mines in the aftermath of the mine attack against the Airborne troopers]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. It saddens me so few have left remembrances for you here...surely you deserve better. May you rest in eternal peace.