THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

Dennis, I learned of you today from your Pilot in Vietnam, Tom Tesmar.. Even after all these decades he speaks of how good you were at your job and how courageous you were in combat..... Thank you Dennis for picking up a rifle and defending this nation. We exist and thrive because of men like you.

Dear Sgt Dennis Lulofs, Thank you for your service as a Flight Qualified Infantryman. The 53rd anniversary of the start of your tour is in a few days. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Sunday was Mother’s Day, but like none other. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Dennis J Lulofs was my door gunner in Vietnam. He was absolutely the best soldier and one great human being. I do not know why, but he generally referred to himself as Greg Lulofs. That will Remain a mystery to me. I was there when he was killed. It was a very sad day for me, personally.

Tay Ninh Combat Base was a U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base located 40 miles northwest of Saigon. On the night of February 16, 1968, the base was hit by a Viet Cong rocket and mortar attack. Three helicopters of the 187th Attack Helicopter Company “Blackhawks” were damaged by flying shrapnel during the barrage and nine Blackhawk crew members were wounded, including SP4 Dennis J. Lulofs. Lulofs was taken to the 45th Surgical Hospital on base for treatment where the hospital was undergoing a mass casualty incident. While the facility was being overwhelmed by patients, four 107mm rockets hit the hospital area. One of the projectiles landed behind the Pre-Op section and killed medical officer CPT James F. Sosnowski while he was attending to Lulofs. Lulofs expired the following day. Seven other hospital personnel were wounded in the blast. The Pre-Op, X-ray, Admissions and Discharges, Headquarters, and Operating Room areas all sustained damage. Nevertheless, personnel continued to treat patients. Later that night, another 107mm rocket hit the hospital near Pre-Op and injured two more hospital personnel. The enemy shelling finally ceased at 4:00 AM. Lulofs was posthumously promoted to Sergeant. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, vhpa.org, 187ahc.net, and “Shell Kills Doctor, Patient.” Pacific Stars & Stripes, February 19, 1968]