THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from Nancy Loadholt is touching. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever...

I remember Wade Hampton H.S. and our good times, Joe. You rotated first; we're all coming along behind. Gerald

Operation Desoto was a U.S. Marine Corps military action conducted between January 27 and April 7, 1967, to assume the defense of the Duc Pho District in Quang Ngai Province, RVN. A little after noon on February 23, 1967, a twenty-one-man reconnaissance team from 1st Platoon, Company D, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division was deployed to perform ground reconnaissance and observation in support of De Soto. The team was inserted by CH-46 helicopter; minutes after departing the aircraft, the patrol began receiving sniper fire from two different locations. Shortly after, Viet Cong (VC) gunners began firing automatic weapons and small arms at the Marines’ position. Airstrikes were placed on enemy positions, and the fire was suppressed. An hour later, thirty VC were observed moving in the direction of the patrol. Air support was requested, and the Marines engaged the enemy with small arms. Six VC were confirmed killed, with one confirmed wounded. At 3:30 PM, the patrol was picked up by helicopter. The next morning, they were again inserted in the field, linking up with other Marine units operating in the area before setting up an overnight ambush. They were extracted at 7:30 AM on the 25th. Two hours later, they were inserted by helicopter into a landing zone (LZ) near the hamlet of Than Gieng (4), two miles east of Duc Pho Airfield. The LZ was bracketed by enemy machine guns and the insertion ship received heavy machine gun fire from three locations. As the patrol moved to the edge of the LZ, a booby-trap was tripped, wounding two Marines. They set up an Observation Post and one of the wounded was evacuated. Almost an hour later, five VC wearing black pajamas were observed in a bunker and an artillery fire mission was placed on the location. At the same time, two members of the patrol tripped another mine. A powerful explosion, possibly a booby-trapped 105mm artillery round, killed one Marine and wounded seven. SGT Joe W. Barnes died instantly after receiving catastrophic blast injuries. His remains were scattered and not discovered until another unit dug into the hill several days later. Wires and batteries were found, suggesting the device was electrically detonated. A helicopter was dispatched to their location, and the entire patrol was lifted to a Navy hospital ship anchored offshore. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and Command Chronology, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion (Rein), Chu Lai, February 1967]

Joe, you were so special, the strong silent type. I always hoped to have you as a brother in law, but God had other plans. You are always remembered and your picture hangs in my house in a ace of honor. Such great memories of you, always young in my thoughts, taken from us much too soon. I know that all of the family is together now in heaven and rejoicing. Remembering forever.

Joe, I'm so happy that I got to know you, and I'm so sad you're gone on. Thank your family and you for your service. RIP and know you will never be forgotten.