THE WALL OF FACES

When I was in my early 20's, I received my MIA bracelet. It had your name on it. I tried calling to see if you were ever found, but was given no information. I still think of you and pray for you. Now I can put your face to the man I've always wondered about and prayed for. Thank you for your service and bravery.

On 10 Oct 1968 Alpha Company 2/12 Infantry was conducting a recon-in-force about 2 kilometers northwest of Trang Bang, Hau Nghia Province. As the lead platoon approached the hamlet of Xa Lom Vo the point squad came under murderous small arms and automatic weapons fire from a treeline, killing or wounding several men, one of whom - SP4 E. A. Handrahan, the left point - fell in a position where he could not be seen by his comrades or by the command and control helicopter. Despite repeated efforts, which resulted in additional US casualties, three of the men hit in the intial exchange of fires could not be recovered - Handrahan, who could not be seen but who was calling out, and two others who lay motionless. The platoon leader pulled his men back so that aircraft could work the treeline while the rest of Alpha 2/12 deployed. As the day progressed, it became clear to the ground commander that all three of his trapped men had died, and heavier air strikes were called as the company formed a night defensive perimeter.

At daybreak Alpha reentered the engagement area and recovered the bodies of the two men who had fallen in the open. The area where Handrahan went down had been hit by bombs and his body was not found. Three of the five dead were awarded posthumous Distinguished Service Crosses, all for their efforts to protect and recover the men hit by the initial fires.

The five men were:

SFC Eugene A. Handrahan, St Paul, MN;
SGT Baynes B. McSwain, San Marcos, TX (Dist Svc Cross);
SP4 Stanley G. Denisowski, Utica, NY (Dist Svc Cross);
CPL Michael E. Evans, Greensboro, GA; and
CPL Michael E. Randall, Noblesville, IN (Dist Svc Cross).

Four other men from C Company, 2nd Bn, 27th Infantry, which had been inserted to assist Alpha 2/12, also were killed in the fighting:

SGT Ronnie Blair, St Marys, OH;
SP4 John W. Robinson, Charleston, SC;
SP4 Waymon L. Triggs, Houston, TX; and
PFC Angel L. Ramos, Jersey City, NJ.

I have worn and still wear your POW/MIA bracelet. I have worn out eight of them. Gene was doing what I did, patrolling in South Vietnam, when he was captured. I didn't know Gene, but I was in country when he was lost on 10/10/68. After I pass away, or you are found, someone will deliver my nine bracelets to the wall.

The following is from the 1996 book THE FACES BEHIND THE NAMES by Don Ward. The book encompasses the stories and photos of hundreds of Minnesota soldiers killed in action in Vietnam. The stories are mostly told by family members. The school picture of Eugene in the book is from his graduation year of 1966 at Saint Paul Johnson High School in Minnesota and the same picture seen on his VVMF page. In the words of Eugene's sister Joan O'Brien:

EUGENE ALLEN HANDRAHAN
ARMY SERGEANT FIRST CLASS
Born: July 30, 1947
Missing In Action: October 10, 1968

Eugene Allen Handrahan was born in St. Paul, Minnesota to Leo and Adeline Handrahan. His two older sisters, Betty and Joan, are on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota League of POW/MIA Families. Eugene's younger brothers are Steve, Dennis and Gary.
Gene had a great zest for life. He loved both snow-skiing and water-skiing. He loved animals and bought a puppy named "Poochie." He was thoughtful and sensitive. He was generous with his hard-earned money, and loved to give gifts. One special gift was a blue music box that played "Home Sweet Home." Gene was not afraid to show his feelings. He gave hugs years before hugs were popular. People always commented about Gene's polite and charismatic behavior. Above all, Gene had a great sense of humor.
As a youngster, Gene caddied at Hillcrest Golf Club. Summers he worked really hard at his Uncle George's dairy farm in Osceola, Wisconsin. Then he worked at his dad's Shell Gas Service Station which, ironically, was located on the site of the present North St. Paul VFW parking lot.
In 1966, Gene graduated from Johnson High School. With the draft, young people felt as if they had to squeeze as much into life as possible, because there might not be a future, You could expect a draft notice, and be off to fight a war. This happened to Eugene. Emotions were confusing. There were war protests and some guys were going to Canada. Some desperately sought education deferments. Gene's dad served in World War II, and his sister's husband was already in Vietnam, as were others. His family was patriotic, but confused about this "undeclared" war. (Hindsight shows that not one politicians' son went to Vietnam).
A few months before he left for Vietnam, Gene married his sweetheart, Sharon Torkelson. They squeezed as much of a lifetime as possible into those short months. In April, 1968 Gene was sent to Vietnam. He was with the Army's 1st Infantry Division and was stationed northwest of Saigon. At the end of July, Gene was sent news of the birth of his daughter.
On October 11 (Gene's oldest sister's birthday), an Army car drove up in the front of the family home. Their message was that Gene wasn't dead...he was only missing. All were devastated. Where is he? Is he hurt? What can we do to help? Originally, the Casualty Office told all families of loved ones who were missing in action to be quiet and not talk to the media. In the beginning, they said it was for his safety, and now their most popular excuse is that it's because of "national security." Yes, even 23 years after the war, documents are still classified "secret". The incident took place when Eugene's platoon was ambushed as they approached the village on Ong Dam, northwest of Saigon. Eugene, as point man, walked by a hedgerow. Automatic guns fired and killed a man on each side of Gene. He was hit in the legs, and yelled to his friends that he couldn't walk. The platoon withdrew, but came back the next morning to find two dead and Eugene missing. In this area the Vietnamese had a lot of man-made tunnels in the ground, called "spider holes."
Subsequent years were spent writing letters asking for information and help, signing petitions, wearing POW/MIA bracelets, meeting with other families, and praying. In February of 1972, when the 591 POWs were returned, we watched the TV screen with anticipation. Then President Nixon said, "They are all home." We talked with other POW/MIA families who had actual pictures of their men in captivity, yet they didn't come home alive, and the Vietnamese Government said they didn't have their remains, either.
After the war, in 1975, Vietnamese "boat people" began arriving in the United States, telling about live American "war criminals." Hope grew. Those live Americans belonged to some of us. We tried our best not to let them be forgotten. Years passed, administration after administration gave lip service to POW/MIA being the "highest national priority." It's been 27 years of rhetoric. In 1994, President Clinton gave Vietnam normalization. The 55 POWs whose files are still open are men whom we know the Vietnamese had alive. Those families still wait. We continue to work with Minnesota Won't Forget POW/MIA.
Leo, Eugene's dad, walked Eugene's daughter, Pam, down the aisle last year, while a single white rose represented Gene at the wedding. We are grateful for people continuing to keep the awareness alive by flying the POW/MIA flags for all these men and their families. Our government may continue to reward Vietnam and forget our loved ones, but to all of us, they are not forgotten and we will continue to pursue the truth.

Joan O'Brien, sister of Eugene Handrahan

We've never met but I wear your P.O.W. bracelet with pride every Memorial and Veterans Day. Thank you for your service and bravery. I could never do the job you did for us.