THE WALL OF FACES

I wish I had gotten to meet you! I've heard so many stories about you from your siblings my aunts and uncles and of course my dad George Grecu. We celebrate you every year with posts about you being a hero! In San Jose Ca they have made a special remembrance wall for all the Vietnam War Veterans and your name is on there. You'll never be forgotten and one day I'll get to meet you in the heavens until then your always in our thoughts!
Your niece, Nicole Grecu

On August 22, 1969, a mine sweep team from D Company, 19th Engineer Battalion (Combat), 45th Engineer Group, 18th Engineer Brigade, U.S. Army Republic of Vietnam Engineer Command, was conducting a road clearance mission in the extreme southern portion of Quang Ngai Province, RVN, when it was called to assist a Vietnamese civilian vehicle that had been attacked with enemy rockets. At approximately 2:30 PM, while enroute to the location, the Engineers received heavy small arms fire in an ambush by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA). A reaction force of C/19th Engineers with three M42 40 mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns ("Dusters”) attempted to reinforce the besieged D/19th Engineers. They were ambushed by the NVA two kilometers (1.2 miles) southeast of Duc Pho, receiving heavy small arms fire, approximately 20-25 B40 rocket-propelled grenades, and 60mm mortar rounds. An aerial observer and gunship support was requested which forced the enemy to break contact at 4:45 PM. The Americans killed fifteen NVA and captured a variety of weapons. U.S. losses were one killed and eight wounded. The lost man was SP4 Michael J. Grecu, a Combat Engineer from Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC), 19th Engineer Battalion. During the contact, he and another enlisted Engineer were knocked from a vehicle into the road by exploding enemy rounds. Grecu was killed by NVA rifle fire, his body hit again by either a mortar round or B40 rocket and thrown to the side of the road. His remains were placed on one of the tracked vehicles and carried back to the A/D-19th Eng vehicle headquarters. One Popular Forces soldier was wounded, and a Vietnamese civilian was killed with eleven others wounded. Material losses were two Dusters destroyed and one 2-1/2-ton Army soils lab truck heavily damaged. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrances from your cousin Johane are moving. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever…..

On the remembrance of your 70th birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

Specialist Four Michael John Grecu, Served with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 19th Engineer Battalion, 45th Engineer Group, 18th Engineer Brigade, United States Army Vietnam Engineer Command, United States Army Vietnam.