THE WALL OF FACES

SP4 Bennett J. Herrick was an Airborne-qualified infantryman serving with 2nd Platoon, B Company, 3rd Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. During March 1968, the 101st Airborne Division acted as a ready-reaction force following the launching of the Tet Offensive by the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong a month earlier on January 31st. Elements of the Division fought enemy units from the marshy rice lands southeast of the capital of Saigon to the mountainous jungles west of Hue in Thua Thien Province. Early on the morning of March 25, 1968, while on patrol west of Phan Thiet in Binh Thuan Province, Herrick’s platoon discovered nine enemy graves. While investigating the area, his unit engaged an unknown-size Viet Cong force. There was a brief, but intense firefight following which the enemy broke contact and fled. While 2nd Platoon swept the battle area, they were unaware Viet Cong snipers remained behind. Herrick was singled out and died almost instantly after being hit. Nearly twenty-eight months following his death in combat, his younger brother, SP4 Dennis H. Herrick, a military policeman with the 284th MP Company, died at Long Binh Post in Bien Hoa Province, RVN. Postmortem studies determined the younger Herrick died from “intravenous narcotism.” The brothers were laid to rest together at White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Gladstone, MO. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and the book “My Gift to You” by Jerald W. Berry]

Thank you for your service to yr country so long ago sir. That your brother Dennis also died in this war is unspeakably sad. May you both rest in eternal peace.

Dear Sp4 Bennett Herrick, Thank you for your service as an Airborne Qualified Infantryman. I did the research on you on your 71st birthday, happy birthday. It is Memorial Day weekend when we honor you. Please watch over the USA, it still needs your courage. Rest in peace with the angels....

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.

He cared about the guys he served.