THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. While all deaths in Vietnam are tragic that you died just three days before your 24th birthday is especially so. May you rest in eternal peace.

On June 19, 1968, elements of Second and Third Platoons, C Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division "Wolfhounds" conducted an “Eagle Mission,” an air mobile insertion west of the Saigon River in Gia Dinh Province, RVN, to interdict enemy forces infiltrating the Saigon and Tan Son Nhut area. A little before 11:00 AM, the troopers were set down adjacent to a berm in a field by the juncture of the Rach Tra stream and the Saigon River, six kilometers (3.6 miles) northeast of Hoc Mon village. As the last of the five UH-1 helicopters (116th Aviation Company “Hornets”) pulled out of the landing zone, VC concealed in a hedgerow 10-15 yards away opened fire with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. The foot-tall reed grass in the field provided no cover, and within ten minutes nearly every man on the Eagle Flight had been killed or wounded. Army AH-1 Cobra gunships (25th Aviation Battalion “Diamondheads”) accompanying the insertion attacked the enemy positions. This was followed by three waves of CS (tear) gas placed on the VC’s location. Moving in small groups, the pinned down Americans were able to pull back with their wounded behind the smoke screen approximately 150 yards to link up with a second Eagle Flight from B-1/27 sent to reinforce them. Bravo Company’s medics treated the C Company wounded and secured a landing zone for medical evacuations. Under fire the wounded were lifted out and flown to the 12th Evacuation Hospital at Cu Chi. Later, Delta Company arrived on foot to further strengthen the position. A headcount revealed over a dozen C Company men missing. At midnight, a stealth assault group from D-1/27 entered the contact area to recover any other wounded; however, all the personnel they located were dead. Twenty-five enemy bodies were also in the area. Total U.S. losses were thirteen killed with thirteen wounded. The lost personnel included PFC David R. Bartholomew, PFC James R. Fry Jr., SP4 Jeffery H. Hall, PFC Michael J. Johnson, 1LT John J. Link, PVT Eugene L. Manselle III, SP4 Charles A. McKinney, SP4 Ruben D. Mercado-Gutierrez, SGT John V. Quintal, SP4 Bobby D. Stanley, PFC Fred Wilson, PVT Gary D. Woods, and PFC Robert G. Zink. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and archive.org; Image: Helicopters arrive to take soldiers from the 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division on an "Eagle Mission." (Pacific Stars & Stripes, May 1, 1967)]

Dear Lt John Link, Thank you for your service as Infantry Unit Commander. The 52nd anniversary of the start of your tour is in 2 days. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Today is Easter Friday. The time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

First Lieutenant John Joseph Link, Served with the 2nd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.

You were one of the brave that answered the call. You honored us by your service and sacrifice. We now honor you each time we stand and sing the words “THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE”. Rest in Peace and Honor John.