THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your brother Dave is touching and reflects his admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever….

Dear PFC Melville Lurth, Thank you for your service as a Field Artillery Basic. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Buzz, we had some great conversations as we traveled together from St. Peter to BSC. Even after all these years, I still miss you and think of you often. Thank you for your service to the cause of freedom.

Landing Zone (LZ) Liz was a forward support base for the U.S. Marines and later for the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. It was located in Quang Ngai Province, I Corps, south of Da Nang, west of Highway 1, and north of LZ Bronco and Duc Pho. LZ Liz consisted of two small hills with a saddle running in between. The saddle was occupied by an artillery section. Beginning with Tet 1969, the LZ began receiving periodic mortar and rocket attacks. On June 8, 1969, an eighteen-man North Vietnamese Army sapper team divided into three six-man squads attacked Liz. Each squad had one rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) B-40 gunner, one rifleman armed with an AK-47, and four ammo bearers carrying baskets of B-40 rockets, grenades, satchel charges, and commo wire. Two of the teams attacked the southern side of Liz while, the third attacked the northern side. At 3:30 AM, the team attacking the north side destroyed a generator with a B-40 rocket. It appeared their primary target was the communication bunker. While tenaciously defending this location, artilleryman PFC Melville A. Lurth Jr. was killed. The bunker and much of the equipment inside was destroyed, however, no radios were damaged. The Battery Commander, with assistance from others, drove off the main assault with fragmentation and thermite grenades. U.S. losses at Liz included one killed (Lurth) and twelve wounded. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “After Action Report-11th Infantry Brigade” at vva.vietnam.ttu.edu]

Buzz,
It has been a long time, but thank you for being a lifeguard at the Mayville pool and coaching my dives. I can only imagine the way you touched so many others. Your sacrifice means we get to live free in the US.
Ben