THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Wheeler was a U.S. offensive operation launched on September 11, 1967, by the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division against the North Vietnamese Army’s (NVA) 2nd Division to the northwest of Chu Lai in Quang Nam Province, RVN. The operation was a series of assaults and search and destroy missions against the NVA. In early October, command authority for the 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, was passed to the 1st Brigade, and the battalion departed Duc Pho Base Camp in southern Quang Ngai Province for the Wheeler area of operations. On November 9, 1967, while A Company, 1/35th was conducting combat operations near Chu Lai, it was engaged by an estimated two companies of North Vietnamese Army regulars wielding machine guns and small arms. A heavy barrage of fire was received as the company approached a fork of a river. Seven American were killed in the battle and one reported missing. The lost personnel included PFC Robert L. Hale, SP4 Donald S. Holke, SP4 James R. Howard, SP4 Dennis R. Podgorny, PFC Billy Templeton, SSG Freddie L. Thomas Jr., PFC Quinn W. Tichenor, and SP5 Tyrone Wright. Another sixteen were wounded requiring evacuation. Several posthumous decorations for bravery were awarded: Holke, a radioman, received the Silver Star for bravery, and Howard, Podgorny, and Tichenor were awarded the Bronze Star. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, cacti35th.com, and wikipedia.org]

Private First Class Robert Lawrence Hale, Served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

Dear PFC Robert Hale,
Thank you for your service as an Infantry Direct Fire Crewman. 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.

I attend high school with Robert and we graduated in 1964 from Robert E Lee in Baytown. I also served a year in Vietnam and had returned home in Sept. '67, was sad to hear the news, he was a great person.

Dear PFC Robert Lawrence Hale, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter