THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Bushmaster I (November 14-22, 1965) was a 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division search and destroy operation south of the Michelin Rubber Plantation in Binh Duong Province, RVN. The operation fell behind schedule almost from the start, but the troops stuck to a modified version of the original plan and covered their assigned area. For all of their searching, they turned up little, and by November 20th, plans were made to return them to base. The 1st of the 16th Infantry would move to Lai Khe Base by air, but the other units, including 2/28th Infantry would travel by motor convoy on National Route QL-13. Mounting armored personnel carriers supplied by the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, the unit was to move east on Route 239 to Chon Thanh and south on QL-13 to Lai Khe. The nearly two-mile-long convoy bogged down in deep mud from late-season heavy monsoon rains. At 6:20 PM, about five miles short of QL-13, the lead elements began taking small arms fire after an armed Viet Cong (VC) was fired on and killed. The two forward platoons dismounted, formed a perimeter, and returned fire. The VC attack gradually spread to the middle of the column with machine gun and small arms fire raking the convoy from a village on both sides of the road. A U.S. 81mm mortar section lobbing rounds on each side of the road drew enemy recoilless rifle fire from the east side of the road. The Americans focused fire on the weapon, killing the crew and another that came forward to take its place. Gunships and jets dropping napalm plus South Vietnamese artillery broke the attack, and by 9:15 PM, the convoy moved out of the ambush site under the cover of flare ships and U.S. Air Force jet bombers. A landing zone was established, and medivac aircraft removed the wounded. Two aircraft overflew the battle area checking for U.S. stragglers; none were sighted. Over the next two days, the battalion proceeded to Lai Khe and Operation Bushmaster was declared over. During the engagement on Route 239, the Viet Cong killed six Americans and wounded thirty-eight. The lost personnel included SGT Connie L. Chandler, PFC John P. Emerling, 2LT Andre Haroulakis, SP4 Ivan Noteboom, SGT Kenneth E. Sargent, and SP4 William J. Taylor III. Six vehicles were damaged and left behind. Estimates of enemy killed were put at 100. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, “Stemming the Tide” by John M. Carland, and “Combat Operation After Action Report for Operation Bushmaster” at ttu.edu]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your wife Helen is moving and reflects her eternal love for you. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

Second Lieutenant Andre Haroulakis, Served with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

HOOAH