THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. We should be forever thankful for the sacrifices of you and so many others to ensure the freedoms we so often take for granted.

Petty Officer First Class Edward Fletcher Habblett, Jr. was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, with Combat Distinguishing Device (V), for his exemplary gallantry in action. He served as a Signalman First Class and was assigned to PBR-655, RIVDIV 572, TASK FORCE 116.
See http://www.virtualwall.org/dh/HabblettEF01a.htm

Petty Officer First Class Edward Fletcher Habblett Jr., Served aboard PBR-655 (Patrol Boat River 655), River Division 572 (RIVDIV-572), Task Force 116 (TF-116), United States Naval Forces Vietnam (USNAVFORV).

Dear PO1C Edward Habblett,
Thank you for your service as a Signalman 1st Class. The war was years ago, but we all need 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.

About 0400 hours on May 18, 1970, the Navy Base at Song Ong Doc on the western coast of South Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region called the CGC Sherman (WHEC-720) for fire on a sensor activation. The base was ringed with precisely charted acoustic, magnetic, and seismic sensors to detect any attempted attack by the Viet Cong. When the base called the ship and asked for Naval Gunfire Support (NGFS) on a specific sensor activation, the ship would respond with its 5-inch gun, using HECVT (proximity-fused high-capacity explosive) projectiles. In this case, the call was for ten rounds over target. Midway through the firing, the base called for ceasefire because the rounds were exploding over the base. Unfortunately, by the time this command reached the gunmount, the last round was already in the air. Seven rounds of point-detonating fuze and three rounds of air-bursts impacted in the immediate vicinity of the base, 1200 yards south of the proposed target, wounding eight persons. The seriously wounded were quickly medivacked to the Sherman, but one man, SM1 Edward Habblett Jr., died shortly thereafter. Habblett was a PBR skipper in River Division 572. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]