THE WALL OF FACES

Some may think you are forgotten
Though on earth you are no more
But in our memory you are with us
As you always were before….

Dear PFC Fred Larson, Thank you for your service as a Field Artillery Basic. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. For many of us, we have begun Lent. The time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Private First Class Fred Duane Larson, Served with Battery C, 6th Battalion, 11th Artillery Regiment, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division.

CPT James R. Fowler, 1LT Richard G. Gardner, and PFC Fred D. Larson were assigned to the 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. On April 24, 1970, they were participating in a combat patrol near the city of Lang Dong Ban, approximately 25 miles southeast of Quang Ngai City in Quang Nai Province, RVN. During the mission, four 6’ x 9’ camouflaged hootches were located along the trail by American troops. CPT Fowler, 1LT Gardner, PFC Larson, and a fourth soldier inspected the suspected enemy dwellings. Inside one of the hootches they searched through a basket. Unbeknownst to them, there was a hand grenade in the basket with the pin partially pulled out. Inside the basket was material which appeared to be clothing and papers. When the material was lifted from the basket, an explosion occurred. Larson was killed instantly in the blast. An urgent call was made for a dustoff (medical evacuation by helicopter) for two U.S. WHA (wounded hostile action) with multiple fragmentation wounds of head, chest and shoulders. Fowler and Gardner died before the dustoff reached them. The fourth soldier, SP4 Ronald Primavera, was transported to the 91st Evacuation Hospital in Chu Lai. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and 6-11artillery.org]

PFC Fred D. Larson served with C Battery, 6th Battalion, 11th Artillery. On the afternoon of April 24, 1970, PFC Larson was a member of a forward observation team attached to an infantry unit which was participating in a combat patrol near the city of Lang Dong Ban, approximately 25 miles southeast of Quang Ngai City in Quang Nai Province, RVN. At 1:00 PM, as PFC Larson and a fellow soldier were searching a suspected enemy dwelling, a concealed enemy explosive device was detonated. As a result of the explosion, he received fatal fragments wounds. [Taken from sdvietnamwarmemorial.com]