THE WALL OF FACES

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine

Hill 327 was located on a ridge two miles southwest of Da Nang Air Base in Quang Nam Province, RVN. Nicknamed “Division Ridge,” it was the headquarters for the 1st Marine Division. On the early morning of March 28, 1967, some Marines from A Company, 7th Engineer Battalion were conducting a refresher course before heading out to clear a minefield. The commanding officer (CO) of A Company decided that the engineers should be shown how to disarm a mine. This, on reflection to those present, seemed pointless as enemy mines located by patrolling Marines were never disarmed, and instead, blown in place. No Viet Cong devices were available, so an armed U.S.-made M16A2 “Bouncing Betty” bounding anti-personnel mine was used. During the demonstration, the mine accidently detonated, killing thirteen Marines and wounding one. The lost personnel included LCPL Thomas C. Bekiempis, LCPL Stanley Davidheiser Jr., LCPL Larry C. Dye, PFC Otis R. Ellis Jr., LCPL Anthony Hawkins, CPL Daniel R. Laird, 2LT Glenn M. McCarthy, LCPL Eugene J. Payne III, CPL Ronald W. Porter, CPL Glenn W. Shafer, LCPL Don L. Shockley, CPL Howard S. Stevens, and CPL Verrell D. Stiles. The dead were loaded onto a M35 6×6 cargo truck and transported to a Marine medical dispensary for later transfer to Graves Registration. Two days after the incident, the CO was relieved of his command. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Classroom Mine Kills 13.” Pacific Stars & Stripes, March 30, 1967; also, information provided by Terry Moser (October 2001) at thewall-usa.com]

This is his boot camp photo from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, Platoon 393. He earned the title “U.S. Marine” on June 8, 1966.

Thank you for your service to our great country my brother. Semper Fi.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from Mary Pinto Franzese is especially poignant. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

Tommy, in grammar school we were best buds and I remember some good times before you moved. We would aggravate your Brother Vincent but he still took us to the Plaza Theater to see those Spooky Movies like Dracula, The Mummy and Frankenstein! I was devastated years ago when I heard you were gone! Rest Easy Marine!