THE WALL OF FACES

SSG Mark E. Hambleton was an infantryman serving with D Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Drafted in 1969, he was top of his class at the Army’s Noncommissioned Officers school. Arriving in Vietnam in March 1970, Hambleton was assigned platoon sergeant for Second Platoon. On September 19, 1970, his unit was conducting a company-sized search and destroy operation in Phuoc Long Province, RVN. Part of Second Brigade, they concentrated on interdiction of enemy supply and infiltration routes between Camp Gorvad and the Cambodian border. As evening approached, D Company’s commanding officer (CO) directed his Second and Third Platoon leaders to place out automatic ambush devices on a main trail near their overnight defensive position (NDP). A squad from Third Platoon proceeded one way down the trail, and a squad from Second Platoon, led by Hambleton, went another. He counted off the steps as they moved out the standard one hundred meters for mine placement. Four Claymore anti-personnel mines, daisy-chained (connected) together, were set parallel to the trail with a tripwire placed across. Their task completed, Hambleton and his team returned to the NDP. It was nearly dark as the squad approached the cutoff for the trail into their night position; however, the point man missed the trail, causing confusion amongst the men. Hambleton took control and had the squad wait as he moved further down the trail to find the cutoff. He traveled only a short distance when he tripped Third Platoon’s ambush. A deafening roar was emitted as the four Claymores detonated; Hambleton was killed instantly. What Second Platoon hadn’t known was that Third Platoon, in their haste to get their mines set and return to the NDP, had only moved down the trail fifty meters. For his own protection, the man to blame for this irresponsibility was transferred out of the unit the next day. Second Platoon grieved over the loss of Hambleton. The CO, who was headed to Hawaii on R&R soon, Hambleton’s home state, vowed he would visit his parents and return to them a special knife that Hambleton carried. It is unclear whether the CO ever fulfilled this promise. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Bob Behrens (August 2023)]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your mother Elynore is especially poignant and reflects her pride in you and eternal love for you. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

Staff Sergeant Mark Evan Hambleton, Served with Company D, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

Never forgotten.

GARRYOWEN

Staff Sergeant Mark Evan Hambleton was awarded the Silver Star Medal for his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action. He served as an Infantryman and was assigned to D CO, 1ST BN, 7TH CAVALRY, 1ST CAV DIV.
See http://www.virtualwall.org/dh/HambletonME01a.htm