THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Michael. Thank you for your service. You gave all at the age of 19. You are the brother I never got to meet, but your picture, your medals, and the folded flag given to your Mom and Dad adorn our home. I am married to your brother, who misses you every day. Rest in peace, dear one.

The Battle of Ap Gu (March 31 - April 1, 1967) occurred during Operation Junction City, a search and destroy mission by U.S. military forces in Tay Ninh Province, RVN, west of the capital Saigon. Two U.S. 1st Infantry Division battalions made airborne assaults near the border with Cambodia to secure roads and LZ George, and to search and destroy Viet Cong (VC) in the surrounding area. The assaults were initially scheduled for March 30th, but poor weather forced one of the battalions to land a day later. In the early afternoon of March 31st, the Americans began reconnaissance missions, and one platoon from 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry was attacked by an undetermined-size VC force in a wood line north of LZ George. The assault killed their commanding officer. A few hours later, a U.S. company was attacked by a battalion-sized VC force and nearly overwhelmed. The communists tried to exploit their advantage but were driven off by American firepower. At 5:00 AM the next day, the 271st VC Regiment launched attacks on LZ George, firing hundreds of 60mm and 82mm mortar rounds followed by infantry charges. They managed to overrun some bunkers and hold territory before the Americans called in all available air and artillery support. Air strikes and cluster bombs wore down the VC and they broke contact at 8:08 AM with heavy casualties. The battle left 609 VC killed with 5 captured and over 23 weapons of all types recovered. American losses in the two days of fighting were 18 killed and 69 wounded. The lost personnel included (from 1/26th Inf) SP4 Freddy L. Amick, SSG Earnest C. Brown, SP4 Kenneth J. Dantzler, SP4 Phillip Grant, SP4 Thomas M. Hannigan, PFC William P. Kelly, SP4 Patrick T. Mercier, PFC William R. Petersen, SGT James E. Pressley, SP4 Ray W. Rhodus, PFC Joe D. Stowers, SGT Charles G. Summers, 1LT David F. Taylor III, PSG Delbert C. Totty, PFC James L. Wehr, and 1LT Richard A. Hill; and (1/2nd Inf) PFC Roland H. Howell, PFC Michael J. Laurie, and PFC Sammie L. Watt. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, wikipedia.org, and “Lessons Learned, Headquarters, 1st Infantry Division, After Action Report – Operation Junction City, 8 May 1967” at archive.org]

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed...
We feel lucky to have seen it.

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

Dear PFC Michael Laurie, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. 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.