THE WALL OF FACES

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

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...

SP4 John G. Kopriva was an infantryman serving with the LRRP Platoon (Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol), E Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 1st Cavalry Division. The “Lurps” were small, well-armed reconnaissance teams that patrolled deep into enemy held territory. On June 21, 1969, SP4 Kopriva was on a platoon-sized LRRP mission, twenty-five men total, in a densely forested area of Long Khanh Province, RVN. The team had been inserted by helicopter a few days earlier and was conducting a search and destroy mission. In the late afternoon, his team was resupplied by helicopter with water, LRRP rations, sundries, and mail. One of the Lurps got a care package from his brother, and he and a teammate retreated under a tree to sample the goodies. About the same time, a “Loach” (U.S. Army OH-6A light observation helicopter) came over their location. The gunner, believing he had spotted enemy combatants, opened fire on the Lurps with an M60 machine gun. The team immediately threw out three or four smoke grenades. The Lurps got on the radio and informed Battalion that they were being attacked by the chopper. One of the rounds fired at them struck Kopriva over the left eye. The helicopter pulled away and the team requested a medivac with a doctor for the critically injured Kopriva. A medivac aircraft was dispatched; however, no doctor was available, but a qualified medic was on board. Before the medivac arrived, the same Loach returned and landed. Kopriva was put in a poncho and loaded on the chopper, and the aircraft took off for Blackhorse Base Camp. The medivac was advised and replied it would escort the Loach. When the grim task of evacuating Kopriva was completed, the Lurps resumed their patrol. Kopriva was admitted to a military medical facility where he died the following day. He was posthumously promoted to Sergeant. An investigation into the friendly-fire incident revealed that the Loach was a 5th Battalion, 12th Infantry aircraft from LZ Libby flying in support of a “sniffer” mission, an airborne personnel detector mission. The helicopter reportedly had gone beyond its area of operations and apparently was unsure of its correct location when the attack occurred. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and Daily Staff Journal (1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Division) for June 21, 1969; also, information provided by Jim Carew (July 2020)]

John...Honoring You on your birthday...God bless

Dear SGT John Gaylord Kopriva, 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, Sir

Curt Carter