THE WALL OF FACES

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

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

Camp Frenzell-Jones was a medium-sized combat base located along Highway QL-1A at the northern end of Long Binh Post in Bien Hoa Province, RVN. At approximately 7:45 PM on December 8, 1968, the base was hit by ten 107mm rockets during an attack which lasted less than ten minutes. The enemy rounds impacted in various locations, including near a fuel dump, an artillery section, in front of the fire station, two units’ orderly rooms, the A/7-199 Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ), the 500th Engineer Company area, and in front of one of the guard towers. Flashes from the launches were observed by a U.S Air Force Douglas AC-47 “Spooky” gunship which saturated the area with fire. A OH-6A light observation helicopter from A/3-17 Cavalry made a visual reconnaissance over the base and in a radius of 5000 yards around the perimeter with negative sightings of suspicious movement. The attack killed three Americans and wounded sixteen others. The lost personnel included SSG Alfred P. Clayton and SSG Michael C. Walker, who were in the BEQ when it was hit by a rocket; also, SP4 Wayne A. Barnum, a mechanic from the 500th Engineer Company, who reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack heart attack during the barrage. One U.S. individual was treated for hysteria after the bombardment and a female Vietnamese worker was in neuro-psychiatric shock but later recovered and returned to work. An all clear was declared at 9:15 PM. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

Specialist Four Wayne Alan Barnum, Served with the 500th Engineer Company, 79th Engineer Group, 20th Engineer Brigade, United States Army Vietnam Engineer Command, United States Army Vietnam.

DEAR SPEC 4 BARNUM,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A LIGHT-WHEEL VEHICLE MECHANIC. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE. ADVENT IS HERE, AND CHRISTMAS IS APPROACHING. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE..