THE WALL OF FACES

LZ Baldy (Hill 63) was a fire support base located alongside National Route QL-1 at its intersection with Route 535 in Quang Nam Province, RVN. Originally built as an Americal Division firebase, it became the Regimental Headquarters for the 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in August 1969. Security for Baldy was rotated between the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions of the 7th Marines. Significant actions frequently occurred close to LZ Baldy. About noon on January 14, 1970, a squad from Company F, 2nd Battalion, sighted 15 enemy soldiers in an area of rice paddies and tree lines two and one-half miles northwest of the base. The Communists were about 100 meters away from the patrol, moving toward the northwest. They wore green uniforms and carried weapons. The Marines fired at them, killing three, and pursued the rest as they fled. Suddenly, other enemy opened up on the patrol from three sides with automatic weapons. The fight rapidly expanded. Two other Marine patrols maneuvered to join the action, and came under fire from automatic rifles, machine guns, and grenade launchers. They replied with their own weapons. Company F's commander brought the rest of his company into the fight and called in artillery and air support. Before the action ended, three OV-10 Bronco attack aircraft, four helicopter gunships, two F-4 Phantom jets, and a Shadow AC-119 gunship had blasted the enemy with machine guns, high explosive and white phosphorous rockets, and napalm. Late in the afternoon, the enemy broke contact and dispersed, leaving behind 10 dead and two AK-47s. Company F had two Marines killed and three wounded. The lost Marines included CPL William Leonard and PFC Jose M. Mangual. Both Leonard and Mangual were posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal for valor. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “U.S. Marines in Vietnam: Vietnamization and Redeployment 1970-1971” by Cosmas and Murray]

My brother, my friend, my hero. Gone to soon. Rest in peace.

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...

Still missing you on your 74bd 52 years later

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived"
George S. Patton
Remembering you Bill on your 73th year