THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. I am 73 and have lived a long and fulfilling life. It is tragic you never had that same opportunity. May you rest in eternal peace.

My name is Cynthia Acevedo- Bahena Grandmother of your great granddaughters, Cynthia Inez, Crystal Michelle and Isabella Eliana Hernandez. I wish I could have met you….my beautiful granddaughters eyes are a spitting image of you. Your blood line is so strong. I want to thank you for your service and protection you gave this Country… the Lord has placed you high above the clouds so you may watch over your Family… thank you for my beautiful granddaughter’s.

Hello my name is Michelle Hernandez I’m your granddaughter I just like to say that you will never be forgotten we talk about you daily and there is still so much I’d like to know about you all I know is my father looks so much like you and I love to hear the stories my grandmother tells me about you and how much she loved you I we all thank you so much for Your ultimate sacrifice

On the remembrance of your 74th birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Forever 18.

Semper Fi, Marine

PFC Louis Peter Hernandez (18) was born on June 2, 1947 and was from San Bernardino, California. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Hernandez of San Bernardino. enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1965. In Vietnam he was serving with Company M, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 3d MARDIV (Rein) FMF as a rifleman. On March 4, Operation UTAH was launched under the command of Task Force Delta in the Son Thinh District of Quang Ngai Province where the Marines would encounter elements of the 21st NVA Regiment. Mike Company was helicoptered into the operations area on the evening of 4 March the Marines moved forward on their search and destroy mission at first light on March 5. With little contact in the morning hours, Company M got heavily engaged with the enemy in the vicinity of Chau Nhai (3) by 1100 hours with the battle continuing into the afternoon. The NVA troops "occupied classic defensive positions, were well-armed and equipped, and defended occupied positions in strength." The Marines engaged and aggressively assaulted the enemy fortified positions and by approximately 1330 hours were able to penetrate the enemy positions which came at a cost of fifteen Marines killed and forty-six wounded in the action. Enemy resistance slackened with nightfall and when the Marines began again after daybreak on 06 March they found the NVA had withdrawn. The position turned out to be an extensive tunnel and underground bunker complex for the NVA 21st Regiment. The action on 05 March cost the Marines 43 dead. Mike 3/1 had fifteen of the Americans killed in action and forty-six wounded on 05 March. On that day, PFC Hernandez was killed in action when he sustained wounds from small arms fire. Pfc. Hernandez is interred at Mountain View Cemetery in San Bernardino, California and is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall, Panel 05E, Line 117.