THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. It remains my fervent hope you will be returned home after the passage of so many years.

I am the Curator of the POW/MIA Bracelet Display in the Vietnam Hangar of the Palm Springs Air Museum in Palm Springs, California where we now have over two thousand bracelets and would be honored to include your bracelet in our Display. If you are an immediate family member (spouse, fiancé, sibling, son or daughter) I can order one for the Display in your name.
Dr. Dave Thompson
Palm Springs Air Museum
POW/MIA Bracelet Display Curator
Lt. Commander U.S. Navy 1964-1970
10-103 Lakeview Dr. Rancho Mirage, Ca 92270
760-328-0859 [email protected]

Never forget.

HOOAH

Sergeant First Class Roger Cobb Hallberg, Served with Detachment A-302 (Bien Hoa), Company A, 5th Special Forces Group, United States Army Vietnam.

On March 23, 1967, two U.S. Special Forces-led Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) companies (“Mike Force”) from Camp Bu Dop made contact with an estimated reinforced NVA battalion approximately eight miles east of camp. After two unsuccessful frontal assaults on fortified enemy positions, friendly elements disengaged from the action and were extracted from the area. Twenty of the enemy were killed, with another estimated forty killed by airstrikes supporting the operation. Friendly casualties during this contact were one Vietnamese Special Forces killed, eleven CIDG killed, and eleven CIDG wounded. The following day, one CIDG company and one Mike Force company conducted a heliborne assault in the same area. Shortly after infiltration, they made heavy contact with an estimated two North Vietnamese Army battalions armed with automatic weapons and recoilless rifles supported with mortars. Under extremely heavy pressure, the CIDG elements conducted a reversing movement and attempted to consolidate positions around the landing zone (LZ) while supported by airstrikes. Communication was lost with the Mike Force element and was never regained. A Mike Force platoon attempted to land on the LZ but was forced to abort the reinforcement because of intense enemy fire. A few helicopters later managed to land and extracted a squad of CIDG. Remaining forces splintered into small groups and infiltrated into Camp Bu Dop during the night and the next day. Segments of the Mike Force also began infiltrating into camp on March 25th. Overall friendly casualties were three CIDG killed, eleven wounded, two U.S. Special Forces missing (CPT Jack T. Stewart and SSG Roger C. Hallberg), and fourteen Mike Force personnel missing. Ninety-eight enemy were confirmed killed, with another estimated 170 killed by airstrikes. Stewart and Hallberg have not been recovered. Both were promoted during the time they were missing, Stewart to Major and Hallberg to Sergeant First Class. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Operational Reports--Lessons Learned, Headquarters, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) 1st Special Forces, Period Ending 30 April 1967” at ttu.edu]