THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. While all deaths in Vietnam are tragic that you died just six days after your 23rd birthday is especially so. May you rest in eternal peace.

Never forgotten.

Semper Fi, Doc

Semper Fi, Doc

Dear PO3C Walter Jackson, Thank you for your service a Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class with the 5th Marine Regiment. Semper Fi. Thank you for the lives you saved.
I researched you on your 76th birthday, happy birthday. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It's the end of summer and Labor Day is in a few days. The time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

At about 1100 hours on August 10, 1966, during Operation Colorado, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, made contact with elements of two NVA battalions in the vicinity of Cam Khe hamlets (1) and (2) on Route 586, 5 miles west of Tam Ky in Quang Tin Province, RVN. The initial contact developed into a full-fledged battle fought in a driving rainstorm which did not clear until about 1730 hours. Although Marine Observation Squadron 6 (VMO-6) provided armed helicopter gunship support, and both shore-based artillery and naval gunfire supported the Marines, fixed-wing aircraft were unable to operate in the area until the rainstorm broke. The 1/5 Marines suffered 14 men killed in action with another 65 wounded, but killed more than 100 NVA troops before the battle ended on the morning of August 11th. Three Navy corpsmen were among the dead, including HN Lawrence T. Steiner, HM3 James T. Elrod, and HM3 Walter P. Jackson. SSGT Robert T. Walsh, a gunner on a medevac helicopter from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 (HMH-361), was also killed after suffering gunshot wounds to the chest during a medical evacuation. The lost 1/5 Marines included SGT Ernest B. Amador, LCPL Richard P. Donathan, PFC David L. Faught, CPL Douglas B. Haddix, LCPL Robert D. Higbee, LCPL Gregory M. Howard, PFC Lawrence J. Kindred, PFC Melvin Rolle, PVT Richard A. Skinner, SGT John D. Smith, PFC Paul E. Sudsbury, PFC Kenneth E. Tasker, PFC Everette A. Thompson, and LCPL Richard W. Williamson. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and thevirtualwall.org]