THE WALL OF FACES

On November 1, 1965, the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division was conducting search and destroy operations in the Ia Drang Valley south west of Plei Me in Pleiku Province, RVN. At 7:20 AM, scouts from B Troop, 1/9 Cavalry spotted a dozen North Vietnamese Army soldiers which they took under fire. An Aero Rifle platoon was dispatched to the area while a larger group of NVA, estimated at 30 strong, was spotted near the American position. Using scout aircraft as guides, the 30-man Aero Rifle platoon made contact with an NVA element near a streambed, killing five and capturing four. Moving on, the platoon captured an aide station believed to be at least regimental in size with all its supplies and equipment. The NVA challenged the American encroachment around their hospital, and a battle raged through the day between three platoons of 1/9 Calvary and the enemy. Assaults were repulsed over and over by just the weapons carried by the American troopers since the enemy pressed so close as to preclude the use of tactical air or aerial rocket artillery support. Reinforcements of five more platoons were airlifted into the area late in the afternoon. The destruction of the aid station was a major find for the Division and also provided the opportunity for the destruction of enemy forces. Enemy losses were put at 99 KIA (by body count), 183 total KIA estimation, with 208 WIA. Furthermore, the capture of documents yielded maps that revealed enemy supply and march routes. These were converted into intelligence that led to additional interdictory bombings by the U.S. Air Force. American losses were 10 fatalities. They included SGT Neil R. Hans, PFC Rodney C. Harris, SGT Ralph W. Onana, PFC James V. Pottkotter, PFC Alton E. Baker, PFC Jesus R. Bermudez, SP5 Charles R. Davis Jr., SP4 Thomas D. Duncan, SGT Daniel D. Harden, and SP4 James Hoover. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and extracts from 1st Cavalry Division reports for November 1, 1965]

Dear PFC Rodney Carswell Harris, 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

Rodney is buried at Memorial Cemetery, Lake City, Columbia County,FL. PH

FOREVER REMEMBERED

"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them....
Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind...."

Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell
KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces.

We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you , one of the gentle heroes and patriots lost to the War in Vietnam:

Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul ... and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.

From your Nam-Band-Of-Brothers

I NEVER KNEW HOW YOU DIED UNTIL I READ THE BOOK, WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE...AND
YOUNG, THEN I LEARNED HOW YOU DIED. YOU ARE A HERO TO ALL OF US AND YOUR
LEGACY HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A FIRST RATE MOVIE. WE CHEATED OUR WAY THROUGH
MS STEPENSON'S ENGLISH CLASS AND THEN THAT TIME AT FOOTBALL PRACTICE WHEN
SOMEBODY GAVE US WATER TO DRINK IN A COKE BOTTLE ONLY TO FIND OUT THEY HAD
PISSED IN THE BOTTLE. JACKSONVILLE HAS CHANGED A LOT, ITS BIG AND STRANGE. YOU
CAN'T CRUISE THE KRYSTAL ANYMORE LIKE WE DID IN YOUR OLD CORVAIR, WHEN WE
SMOKED THOSE AWFUL CIGARS THAT MY MOTHER MADE. THAT TIME WE DRANK THE
LIQUOR YOU FILCHED FROM YOUR PARENTS. YOU WERE CRAZY AS A RUN OVER DOG AND
ONE OF THE MOST FUN GUYS I EVER KNEW. I KNOW YOU MUST HAVE BEEN LOVED BY THE
GUYS IN YOUR PLATOON. YOUR MEMORY WILL LIVE ON IN THOSE OF US WHO KNEW YOU
AND WHO STILL LOVE YOU FOR THE HERO THAT YOU REALLY ARE. GODSPEED OLD FRIEND.