THE WALL OF FACES

May the Angels sing to you a glorious chorus of "Happy Birthday" Vinny You are missed my friend

Private First Class Vincent Mario Benedetti, Served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division.

DEAR PRC BENEDETTI,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS AN INDIRECT FIRE INFANTRYMAN. IT IS 2017, WHICH MAKES IT FAR TOO LONG FOR YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND YOUR SACRIFICE. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE.. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE.

a tribute video
https://youtu.be/sJd5aCs9veo

Fire Support Base Charlie Two (FSB C-2) was located about 3 miles northeast of Cam Lo village in Quang Tri Province, RVN. It was operated by the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized). On May 21, 1971 at 1735 hours, FSB C-2 started to receive 122mm rockets. At 102 pounds and 6 1/2 feet long, the projectiles had a range of over 6 miles and were equipped with time-delayed fuses. A total of 11 rockets landed within the perimeter of FSB C-2. The seventh rocket launched against the base hit at 1744 hours. It struck the Enlisted Men’s club bunker which at the time was occupied by an estimated 65-70 personnel. Even though the bunker was covered by four layers of sandbags and three feet of dirt, the rocket penetrated its protective barrier and exploded inside, causing it to collapse on those sheltered below. Rescue operations were begun immediately. All available personnel and equipment were requested and employed, and C/1-61 arrived from Quang Tri Combat Base as a reaction force at 2100 hours. Excavation rescue and dustoff (medical evacuation missions) activities finally ceased at approximately 0200 hours on May 22nd. The losses were devastating—30 killed and 33 wounded. Several units of the 1st Brigade sustained casualties in the bunker. The 61st Infantry was hit hardest, losing 18 men—60% of the 30 Americans KIA. A Company alone counted 13 killed; Headquarters Company, four; D Company, 1; and brigade HHC, two. The 7th Engineer Battalion’s A Company also saw five members perish in the rubble. A Company of the 77th Armor had one KIA, as did C Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Artillery. Three batteries from the 8th, 26th and 65th Artillery, 108th Artillery Group, probably there for fire direction control, each had a KIA, too. The list of names of the soldiers killed in the attack at FSB C-2 included PFC Marcus E. Arneson, PFC Vincent M. Benedetti, SSGT James E. Boddie, SMAJ Charles M. Crawford, SGT Alvin C. Curry, SFC Thomas F. Delehant, PFC Joe F. Gayosso, SP4 Randall J. Glasspoole, SGT Columbus V. Gross, SGT Billy D. Herring, SP4 William H. Hjorth, SFC William C. Jennings, SP4 William M. Kennedy, SP4 Charles N. Kowalk, PFC Karl J. Lavallee, 1LT Robert B. Lecates, SP4 David B. Matykiewicz, SP5 Steven M. Mitchell, SP4 John H. Najmola, SSGT Bennie L. North, SSGT Leo C. Oatman, SP4 Jerome A. Olson, SP4 Osier L. Pruitt, PFC Alberto A. Ramierez, PFC William Saylor, PFC William T. Smith, SP4 J.C. Summerlin, CPT George T. Taylor, SP4 Kenneth G. Westerberg, and PFC William E. Wolfe. [Taken from digitaledition.qwinc.com and coffeltdatabase.org]