THE WALL OF FACES

During this Christmas season, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

PFC Bechtel will be inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame in the induction ceremony at the Statehouse on 4/22/22. RIP.

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. Your Distinguished Service Cross citation attests to your courage and devotion to your fellow soldiers. May you rest in eternal peace.

CITATION: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to PFC Herbert Stephen Bechtel, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Co B, 1st Bn, 2d Inf, 1st Inf Div, on 25 August 1966. Private Bechtel, serving as a machinegunner during Operation AMARILLO, moved with his unit through a dense jungle area in War Zone C in an attempt to drive heavily reinforced Viet Cong units from their sanctuaries along Route 16. His commander received word that a 16-man patrol from the Battalion had stumbled across a well-camouflaged enemy base camp and was being heavily engaged by a numerically superior Viet Cong force. Private Bechtel's company joined with other elements of the Battalion and quickly moved to assist the beleaguered patrol. As they arrived in the embattled area, his platoon maneuvered between the patrol and the Viet Cong. This gave the patrol sufficient time to move their dead and wounded to the rear. No sooner was the patrol extracted than the Viet Cong Struck the platoon with every weapon at their command. Casualties were many and the platoon was suddenly in grave danger of being destroyed. Artillery and air strikes could not be used against the Viet Cong because of the platoon's proximity to them. Private Bechtel realized the platoon faced annihilation unless someone was able to provide sufficient covering fire to enable the platoon to withdraw. Unhesitatingly, he ordered his gun crew to follow him as he moved to a foxhole forward of the platoon's position. He directed extremely heavy fire on the insurgent bunkers and emplacements, enabling most of the platoon to move back to less exposed positions. There were many wounded who had to be left behind, and Private Bechtel was all that stood between them and the enemy. His steady, intensive fire enabled aidmen to craw forward and start evacuating the wounded. The Viet Cong concentrated their firepower on Private Bechtel's position. An enemy rifle grenade landed near him. The concussion lifted him from the foxhole and shrapnel wounded him in his arms and hands. He ignored the pain and crawled back to his position to resume firing on the Viet Cong. (Con't see https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/5034)