THE WALL OF FACES

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

SP4 Dennis L. Henry was a Personnel Specialist serving with the 58th Signal Company, 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, U.S. Army Republic of Vietnam. On August 23, 1969, a Saturday night, members of Henry’s unit prepared a birthday cake and refreshments for a surprise party held in their barracks at Phu Loi Base Camp in Binh Duong Province, RVN, in commemoration of his son’s first birthday. Shortly after midnight, the party dispersed, and Henry and a soldier friend decided to visit three members of their unit performing guard duty at a bunker on the camp’s perimeter. After visiting for about half an hour, Henry and his companion departed. Walking back to their billets, Henry found a discarded truck tire which he rolled into a laterite pit filled with water. He jumped in and swam towards the tire. While swimming and playing in the water, the companion waded in calling for Henry to come out. He was near his friend when Henry suddenly called out for help. The friend grabbed him by the waist and started to swim to shore when Henry began struggling. He disappeared underwater after the friend lost his grip on him. Their friends in the bunker heard the commotion and ran to the scene. It took several minutes to locate Henry and pull him ashore. Mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths were administered as his friend attempted to revive him. Military police arrived on the scene within fifteen minutes, and Henry was transported to the 185th Medical Dispensary at Phu Loi where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 2:25 AM. After receiving the remains, Graves Registration staff inventoried the personal effects found on Henry, including one Ace comb, a gold ring, a Master Lock key, and a Zippo brand lighter engraved with, “Dennis Henry, When I Die Bury Me Face Down So The Whole World Can Kiss My Ass.” A casualty report by Army notification personnel noted that Henry’s wife in Kentucky was very upset at the news of her husband’s death. A letter was sent to her by MG Kenneth G. Wickham, the Army’s Adjutant General, following an investigation with details of how the loss occurred. Henry, 20, was posthumously promoted to Sergeant. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

Image courtesy of Redbird Research LLC, Saint Charles, MO.

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