THE WALL OF FACES

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

Operation Utah Mesa was a United States Marine Corps, United States Army, and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) operation in northwest Quang Tri Province, RVN, between June 12 and July 6, 1969. The mission was to open Highway QL-9 and then search and clear the area south of QL-9 from Vandegrift Combat Base to the Khe Sanh Plain. The search and clear operations started June 16th by establishing a Command Post (CP) for 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry, with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor attached, at Landing Zone Hawk, where they were directed to conduct operations in the vicinity of Khe Sanh village. An ARVN unit had made heavy contact in that area and 1/61 moved by armored vehicles to join the fight. The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) reacted to this intrusion by launching a series of night attacks against the ground units. The first came against B/1/61 on June 18th. Before dawn that day, an estimated reinforced NVA company hit the southwest side of the soldiers' night defensive position (NDP) located just east of Lang Vei. The attack began with a possible diversionary measure on the west side followed ten minutes later by the main assault consisting of rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire. After breaking through the perimeter, the NVA swarmed over the NDP, fighting the Americans at close quarters. An airborne Forward Air Controller and gunships came on station to assist the besieged U.S. units. Heavy fighting continued until 5:00 AM when the NVA pulled out. The area was later swept, with forty-one enemy bodies located, eleven inside the perimeter. The Americans lost twelve killed and fourteen wounded. The lost personnel included (from 1/61): SP4 Roy J. Curry, PSG Harry G. Diehl, SP4 Charles W. Emmert, SGT Robert L. Graham, SP4 James D. Hennessey, SP4 Charles L. Hunter, SP4 Lionel L. Marc, SP5 Melvin L. Mize, and SGT Paul R. Narvaez, and SP5 Joseph F. Smith Jr.; also (from 1/77 Armor): SSG Michael L. Hodge and SGT James R. Dolvin. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, one-six-one.com, and wikipedia.org]

Dear Sp4 Charles Hunter, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Specialist Four Charles Louis Hunter, Served with Company C, 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division.

Dear Charles,

You Have Not Been Forgotten!

The Society of the Fifth Division, U.S. Army, during its 95th Annual Reunion in Pittsburgh, PA (Sept 10-14, 2015) , held a Reading of the Names Ceremony to honor the 514 Soldiers from the 5th Division that were Killed in Action during the War in Vietnam. Your Name Was Read Aloud Among Those Soldiers. You Have Not Been Forgotten! Rest in Peace, Dear Brother.

Thomas Grafton
Alpha company, 7th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division
Vietnam (1968-1969)