THE WALL OF FACES

We thank you for your service and sacrifice. You are remembered, not forgotten because we utter your name with respect to honor you.
Heart of Texas Veterans Memorial.

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

In June and July of 1966, the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division conducted Operation El Paso II against the Viet Cong’s 9th Division in Binh Long Province, RVN. The object was to open national highway QL-13 and deter a VC offensive against the city of An Loc. On June 8th, Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry conducted a search and clear operation north of Ap Tau O bridge on QL-13. The convoy consisted of nine M48A3 tanks and twenty-seven M113's armored personnel carriers (APC’s), with a total of five officers and 128 men. They were ambushed by the 272nd Viet Cong Regiment which was deployed along a five-kilometer stretch of road in positions extending well beyond the length of the cavalry column. When the ambush was sprung, most of the American troopers were able to reach a small clearing near the head of the column, where, with the help of artillery and air support, they despertly fought off the Viet Cong for four hours. When the battle ended, the enemy had lost over one hundred dead with four taken prisoner. It was estimated that the bodies of a further 200+ enemy dead were carried away. Thirty individual and crew-served weapons were also captured. Although successful, the Cavalry had underestimated the size the VC force. Its supporting fire was used primarily against the Viet Cong in the fighting positions near the Cavalry force, allowing other enemy to freely maneuver and disable several tanks and APC’s. Although an infantry reaction force was committed toward the end, it did not arrive in time to be a decisive factor. Fifteen Americans died in the battle. They included PFC Roger L. Conner, SGT Donald E. Cook, SSG James I. Courtney, SSG Arthur W. Drynan, SGT Dewey L. Ferguson, SP4 Jorge L. Fernandez, SP5 John R. Oakey, PFC George R. Pendygraft, PFC Terrill G. Peterson, SSG Francis C. Rummel, PFC Michael A. Sharp, PFC Avery G. Smith, SP5 Phillip R. Smith, and SP4 Joseph Torzok. A U.S. Army UH-1B helicopter from the 1st Aviation Battalion piloted by MAJ Phillip H. Holmes in support of A Troop was hit by 12.7mm anti-aircraft fire. Holmes was wounded in the groin and died before he could be flown to the nearest hospital. Another nineteen Army of the Republic of Vietnam soldiers were also lost. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, wikipedia.org, and the book “Mounted Combat in Vietnam” (2002) by GEN Donn A. Starry and “Vietnam War: A Topical Exploration and Primary Source Collection by James H. Willbanks; also information provided by Gary A. Warne (August 2019)]

As a crew chief in the slick platoon that fateful day I remember his gunship returning without him. RIP Major Holmes.

Dear Major Phillip Holmes, Thank you for your service as a Rotary Wing Aviation Unit Commander - Helicopter Pilot. Yesterday was Independence Day, and there is no better time to honor you. Please watch over the USA, it still needs your strength. Rest in peace with the angels.