THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. We should be forever thankful for the sacrifices of you and so many others to ensure the freedoms we so often take for granted.

Dear Sp4 Raymond Moon, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. I researched you on the 51st anniversary of the start of your tour. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Thanksgiving is soon, happy Thanksgiving in heaven. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Fire Support Base Rifle was located 10 miles south of Phu Bai Airfield in Thua Thien Province, RVN. It was manned by elements of the 101st Airborne Division along with the 4th Battalion, 54th ARVN Infantry Regiment. During the early morning hours of February 11, 1970, FSB Rifle was overrun by units of the North Vietnamese Army. The NVA were supported with mortars, RPG teams, and multiple sapper squads. When the attack started, the NVA fired 60mm mortar rounds into the base interior, dropping 50–60 rounds inside the perimeter. Next, they fired RPG-2 rockets at the defenders’ bunkers. As the rockets came in, at least two squads of sappers breached the perimeter, some of whom immediately headed for the tactical operations center (TOC). In a well-planned advance operation, the sappers began throwing satchel charges, and NVA ground troops opened up with AK-47 fire. A pitched battle took place inside the perimeter of the fire base as the two sides fired at each other in extremely close quarters; much of the fighting was hand-to-hand combat. By 0145 hours, gunships from the 101st arrived and began firing 2.75-inch rockets at enemy positions. At 0300 hours, the NVA broke off the attack and disappeared back into the heavily forested hills, leaving their dead behind. The devastation and carnage to the base was considerable. Most bunker lines along the perimeter, as well as the TOC, were blown to pieces. Bodies were everywhere: inside the compound, in the wire and outside of the perimeter, both American and NVA soldiers. Many of the NVA had been blown to pieces; some were also burned to cinder. Most dead Americans lay where they fell. The U.S. reaction force that arrived feared they might have been booby-trapped during the firefight, and all had unexploded ordnance still attached to their web gear. During the following day, firefights with the NVA continued as American patrols entered the woods in pursuit of the enemy. It took 14 hours to clear the American and NVA bodies and destroy most of the dud and unexploded ordnance. Over 200 satchel charges loaded with Russian TNT were disarmed and 15 unfired RPG-2 rockets and one dud RPG-7 rocket were collected by American ordinance disposal personnel. Eleven Americans were killed in the battle at FSB Rifle. They included SP4 John J. Burns Jr., PFC Morgan L. Cahoon, SGT Robert R. Davis, PFC Timothy C. Farrell, SSGT Ronald L. Haug, SGT Kenneth L. Keller, SP4 Paul H. Knecht, SP4 Vincent M. La Rocca, SP4 Raymond R. Moon, PFC Marlin T. Peterson, and PFC Harold W. Shuler. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Fire Support Base Rifle: The Day It Was Raining Dead” by Stuart Steinberg, Soldier of Fortune magazine, August 2015]

I took that picture of my friend Moon which I had the honor of knowing back in 1969 was assigned to my squad. Really miss him, was a brave man at the age of 20.

Dear SP4 Raymond Ross Moon, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter