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...

On December 6, 1967, the 1st Infantry Division’s 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry, and B Battery, 1st Battalion, 5th Artillery, conducted an air assault and established a night defensive position (NDP) approximately two miles southeast of Bu Dop Camp near the Vietnam-Cambodia border in Phuoc Long Province, RVN. The NDP was carved out of a bamboo thicket, located on the south side of Hill 172 astride an east-west trail. At 1:00 AM on December 8th, a medivac “dustoff” entered the NDP to remove three men injured in a mine accident. As the helicopter came in, an undetected Viet Cong (VC) force opened fire with small arms. The attack was quickly followed by a mortar barrage of 60mm and 82mm rounds which fell northwest of the NDP. Counterfire was immediately called from supporting artillery and two ambush patrols outside the NDP were brought in. A C Company listening post detected heavy movement, blew five Claymore mines, and also returned to the perimeter. D and B Company’s sides of the perimeter began to receive enemy probes all along the line. Minutes later, heavy automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire began hitting the northwest perimeter. Howitzers in the NDP directed fire into the wood line, breaking up a VC attack. At 2:00 AM, a second attack developed on the southeastern portion of the perimeter between D and B Company. The enemy reached the concertina wire around the NDP but was quickly driven away by supporting 105mm artillery fire. The Big Red One forces continued to fire at the retreating VC forces until 4:00 AM. A sweep of the perimeter at daylight revealed forty-nine VC bodies and numerous bloody trails. An estimated 140 enemy were killed and numerous weapons were captured along with six wounded VC. U.S. loses were four killed and fourteen wounded. The lost personnel included SP4 Kenneth R. Benjamin, SP4 Paul E. Dufford, SGT John M. Ray, and SP4 John E. Thiel. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Danger Forward” (September 1968), a 1st Infantry Division publication]

DEAR SPEC 4 BENJAMIN,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A GRUNT. A FRIEND'S BROTHER WAS ALSO KILLED IN PHUOC LONG. SAY HI TO MIKE. RECENTLY, MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS BORN ON YOUR BIRTHDAY. SIGH. 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.

To my dear loving Uncle Kenny. I may not of had the chance to meet you. As god had called you home to early. I am thankful for what you have done for this country. You have helped give us all a life of FREEDOM that no one ever expected. For that you are a true "Hero". You will forever be missed but never forgotten. Till the day we meet, may you be with us and watch over our family and friends.

Till that day your niece Lisa. Taunton,ma

Dear American Hero,

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for the ultimate sacrifice that you 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. And please know that men and women like you have stepped forward to defend our country yet again, showing the same love for country and their fellow Americans that you did- you would be proud.

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

Curt Carter (son of Sgt Ardon William Carter, 101st Airborne, February 4, 1966, South Vietnam)