THE WALL OF FACES

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

Dear Sp4 Charles Janke, Thank you for your service as a Field Artillery Basic. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It's the end of summer. The time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

The Battle of Ap Bau Bang took place on the morning of November 12, 1965, when two regiments from the Viet Cong 9th Division attacked a night defensive position of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment at a small village by the name of Ap Bau Bang, 15 miles north of Thu Dau Mot in Binh Duong Province, RVN. Early in November, the commander of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 5th Division requested the U.S. 1st Infantry Division to secure Highway 13 north of Lai Khe to cover the movement of the ARVN 7th Regiment, 5th Division for an operation in the Michelin Rubber Plantation. The mission was given to LTC George Shuffer and his 2/2nd Infantry. LTC Shuffer divided Highway 13 into three sectors, each secured by a company, and with the command group, Cavalry, and artillery in the middle sector. Everyday patrols would be sent out to sweep the Highway and its surroundings and then withdraw into night defensive positions. On the night of November 11th, several mortar rounds hit Shuffer's central position, and a night ambush killed two Viet Cong. At 6:05 AM on the morning of November 12th, as Shuffer's forces prepared to start patrolling Highway 13, the Viet Cong launched their attack. Starting with a barrage of 50 mortar rounds, a battalion of Viet Cong attacked from the southwest. The attack was quickly met by return fire from Troop A's M113 armored personnel carriers which broke up the attack. A second attack from the south and a third attack from the southeast were similarly beaten back by the waiting American force. At 7:00 AM, the main attack was launched from the village of Bau Bang to the north and initially succeeded in penetrating the American position before this attack was also repulsed. Battery C used its guns in anti-personnel mode, firing 50 rounds at ground level with two-second fuses. Air strikes by U.S. Air Force A-1H Skyraiders and U.S. Navy A-4 Skyhawks were directed against the Viet Cong mortars and recoilless rifles positioned in and around Bau Bang. At 9:00 AM, the Viet Cong launched a final assault from the north, but were met with concentrated artillery fire and air strikes and by 1:30 PM the Viet Cong had abandoned their attacks and withdrew. Total U.S. casualties were 20 killed and 103 wounded, while Viet Cong losses were 146 killed (body count) and a further 50 were believed to have been killed, but the bodies were removed. The lost Americans included PFC Harold J. Battle, SP4 Allie W. Campbell, PFC Rafael C. Carmona-Medina, PFC Benjamin Castillo-Lima, SSG Joseph R. Dupere, SGT William H. Eaden, SGT Edward P. Ference, PFC Roger L. Floyd, PFC Thomas J. Fox, SP4 Joseph C. Giordano, SP4 Thomas G. Henson, SP4 Charles J. Janke, SP4 Jackie McMillon, PFC Mariner Patrick, PFC Wayne D. Proberts, PFC Rafael Santiago-Cruz, SP4 Raymo Santilli, SP4 Earnest G. Sears, SP5 Eugene Turner, and PFC James B. Washington. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and wikipedia.org]

I think SSG Neil was SP4 Janke's section chief. SP$ Janke was killed when we were partially overrun by a North Vietnam unit in the morning of November 12, 1965. He was on gun #6 during the Battle of Ap Bau Bang 1. The battle is recorded in detail on the First Infantry Division website. I was on gun #4 during the battle.

Dear SP4 Charles Julius Janke, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter