THE WALL OF FACES

Specialist Four Theodore Edward Heinselman, Served with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, United States Army Vietnam. He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, when he was killed in action.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

LZ Dolly was located at the north end of Razorback Ridge on Hill 284, approximately eight miles northeast of Dau Tieng in Binh Duong Province, RVN. In late March 1969, Dolly was occupied by elements of 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. During the late night and early morning of March 25-26, the base was hit by an unreported number and type of mortars rounds followed by a ground attack by an unknown size enemy force. The enemy employed heavy small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket-propelled grenade fire. The Americans returned fire with unit weapons; as the attack developed, artillery and helicopter gunships combined with a U.S. Air Force AC-47 fixed-wing gunship supported the besieged defenders. Contact with the enemy was lost about an hour later when they withdrew. None were reported to have penetrated the perimeter; however, two enemy dead were found on the barbwire. In addition, one crew-served weapon and two individual weapons were captured. U.S. losses were twelve killed and thirteen wounded. The lost personnel included (from B Co 1/5 Cav) SP4 Terry D. Moore; (C Co 1/5 Cav) SP4 Patrick H. Benze, CPL Donald S. Forest, CPL Edward Green Jr., PFC Edward D. Lamoreux, and SP4 Carlton L. Monroe; (from HQ Co 1/5 Cav) SP4 Theodore E. Heinselman; (from C Co 31st Eng Bn) PFC Jose Lezama Jr.; (from HQ Co 1/8 Cav) SP4 Greg W. Mills; (from HQ Co 8th Eng Bn) CPL David J. Huffman; and (from HQ Co 1st Cav Div) SGT Leonard J. Hall and SP4 James L. Stewart. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, virtualwall.org, and “General 1969 MAC-V March Part 2” at ttu.edu]

Dear Sp4 Theodore Heinselman,
Thank you for your service as a Medical NCO with the 1st Cavalry. Thank you for the lives you saved. The war was years ago, but we all need to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

I have never forgotten you, Ted and the times our families spent together when we were young. I have photos of those times that I cherish. I will also never forget going to the wall and getting a rubbing of your name, and feeling you come up behind me and hugging me and hearing you whisper, " thanks for remembering me. I love you too." You will always be my big brother.