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.

Every Memorial Day (and at other odd times) I remember my high school classmate Tommy Lee Mork. I think about how he never had the privilege to live a long life like me, and I wonder what he would have become if not for that fateful day in Viet Nam. Hope you are resting in peace my friend.

On the morning of March 2, 1968, the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division “Manchus” were preparing for a ground assault on an area of previous contact when Charlie Company was ambushed by an estimated reinforced Viet Cong company at a bridge on Route 248 by the Quoi Xuah hamlet close to Hoc Mon village, fourteen kilometers (8.4 miles) northwest of Saigon in Gia Dinh Province, RVN. The ninety-two members of Charlie Company were rushing along the road without flank security to catch up with the rest of the battalion when they ran into the ambush. Within eight minutes, forty-nine Americans were dead or dying and twenty-eight others wounded. The enemy force, concealed in prepared positions, employed small arms, automatic weapons, and Claymore mines. Gunships, artillery, and air strikes supported the Manchus but sniper fire by rear guard elements prevented Alpha, Bravo, and Delta companies from reinforcing the besieged Charlie Company for much of the day. The lost U.S. personnel included (C-4/9 Manchus) PFC Jose L. Alvarez-Tapia, PFC Gerald L. Avery, SP4 Charles E. Bonds, PFC Harlan R. Brandts, SGT Jerry W. Byers, SP4 William B. Cawley Jr., SP4 Alvin L. Cayson, SP4 Nicholas J. Cutinha (posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor), SP4 Bruce Eliot Jr., PFC Gary V. Frazier, PFC Michael D. Frost, PFC Raymond L. Gallagher, SP4 Cal D. Johnson, PFC Lawrence Johnson, PFC Jack J. Jordan Jr., SGT Lee R. Lanier, SSG Charlie F. Lee, PFC James R. Mathis, PFC Robert J. McGee, PFC Charles E. Melott, PFC Leonard D. Moore, SP4 Thomas L. Mork, 2LT James F. O'Laughlin, PFC Kenneth L. Oldham (died of wounds 03/03/1968), PFC Roy D. Page, SP4 William Rassano, PFC Jose A. Reyes, PFC Michael R. Rivers, PFC Ronald L. Salvani, SGT Willard Skaggs Jr., PFC Clifford G. Stockton, CPL Danny G. Swazick, SP4 Warren L. Tall, SP4 John M. Thompson, SP4 Carrel J. Titsworth, SGT Walter C. Velvet Jr., PFC Larry H. Walden, SP4 Gary W. Watkins, PFC Darrell E. Wheeler, SP4 Virgil L. Williams, SP4 Danny S. Young, and PFC Willard F. Young; (HHC-4/9) medics SP5 Ronald A. Slane, PFC Paul E. West, and PFC Joseph J. Williams; (K Trp, 3rd Sqdn, 11th Armored Cavalry) SP4 Barry L. Moyer; (A Btry, 7th Bn, 11th Arty) SGT Kenneth W. Winget; and (A Co, 65th Engineers) PFC Larry A. Widener and PFC Aristides Sosa (posthumously promoted to Corporal and awarded the DSC). Enemy losses were put at twenty dead. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and manchu.org]

I learned about you on Memorial Day 2021. Like you, I am a Gwinn High grad.

Dear Sp4 Thomas Mork, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. I researched you on the 53rd anniversary of the start of your tour. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is 2nd Week of Advent, and this week means peace. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.