THE WALL OF FACES

I will never forget you. Hardly a day goes by that I don't think of you. You was always the strong one in the family. It was the saddest day in our life when we got the news about your death. You are so brave to put your self in harm way. I know you did not have to think twice about saving someone else that who you are. You gave your life for your country and fellow soldiers. Their is no greater honor that to give your life for a friend. God bless you. I miss you so very much.

Remember to save for them a place inside of you, and save one backward glance when you are leaving, for the places they can no longer go...

The Tet Offensive of 1968 was a campaign of surprise attacks against military and civilian command and control centers throughout South Vietnam. The offensive was countrywide and well-coordinated with more than 80,000 North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong troops striking over 100 towns and cities, including 36 of 44 provincial capitals, five of the six autonomous cities, 72 of 245 district towns, and the capital of Saigon. On the morning of February 1st, a reinforced Viet Cong battalion struck the district headquarters north of the capital at Phu Cuong and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Engineer School just west of town. Because of the Tet holidays, the school was defended by only eighty-seven ARVN soldiers and four American advisers. By 7:00 AM, the enemy had overrun the northern half of the facility. If the school fell, the Viet Cong would dominate the high ground, which overlooked a bridge site where men of the 41st Port Construction Company and Company B, 92nd Engineer Construction Battalion were building a steel and concrete bypass viaduct over the Saigon River. The school troops were outnumbered and low on ammunition, and casualties were mounting. A request for help from the American senior adviser went to the engineers at the bridge site, and twenty-five men in a makeshift platoon were sent to the school. Guided by the advisers and aided by an air strike, the engineers counterattacked and drove the enemy back. Soon afterward, a South Vietnamese tank-infantry force arrived, and the Viet Cong were evicted from the school grounds. The U.S. engineers suffered two killed and several wounded. The lost personnel included electrician SP4 Robert E. Johnston Jr. and construction worker PFC Roger D. Puckett. Johnston was posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal gallantry. Less than forty-eight hours later, while fighting was still going on, the engineers were back at work on the bridge. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Engineers at War” by Adrian G. Traas]

Dear Sp4 Robert Johnston, Thank you for your service as an Electrician. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It's almost Columbus Day. The time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

I WISH TO EXTEND MY SINCEREST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS. MAY YOU AND FAMILY REST IN ETERNAL PEACE!

FORMER MEMBER OF THE 41ST ENGR CO. 1967.