THE WALL OF FACES

Sgt Larry Bennett is buried at Resthaven Gardens Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

On October 18, 1968, elements of the 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division clashed with an estimated Viet Cong (VC) battalion about ten miles south of Cai Lay in Dinh Tuong Province, RVN. The fighting killed fifty-nine enemy at the cost of seven U.S. lives. Acting on intelligence, the "Doughboys" of D Troop, 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry were flown in to establish contact and immediately taken under fire. An intense firefight broke out as the enemy withdrew to a bunker line near a river. As the infantrymen moved toward the tree line, they came under heavy fire, wounding SP4 Ronald M. Delp. Others exposed themselves to pull Delp to safety; however, Delp was hit again and killed, and the unit's radio operator (RTO) was hit in the chest. As medic PFC Wayne J. Benes worked on the RTO, he was hit and mortally wounded. A D Troop UH-1D helicopter (#66-16480) was loaded with the casualties but was brought down by small arms and a rocket-propelled grenade round while lifting out. PFC Michael D. Paonessa, a radio liaison with the ground troops, became trapped beneath the downed ship and inundated with JP4 jet fuel. Brute force (reportedly twenty men) lifted the helicopter enough to remove Paonessa and he was medevacked to a base hospital; however, he sustained fatal damage to his lungs after inhaling JP4 and died the next day. Paonessa was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Additional troops from 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry were airlifted into the contact area. Alpha Company, 1/16th Infantry, led by 2nd Platoon, was ambushed while attempting to reach the downed helicopter, killing SSG Otis L. Norris Jr., SGT Larry D. Bennett, and SGT Randall E. Welch. Supporting arms were placed on enemy positions as 105mm, 155mm, and eight-inch artillery pounded the VC. During the night, B Company, 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry engaged eight VC in two sampans trying to escape. A multitude of enemy weapons were captured, and ten pounds of documents recovered. An infantryman from D-6/31st, SGT Lester C. Mc Ginnis II, was killed in the fighting. The next day, fleeing enemy were killed by gunships, artillery, and Air Force strikes. Sixteen suspects were detained, dozens of bunkers destroyed, and more enemy weapons were captured. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “‘Go Devils’ kill 59 Viet Cong.” The Old Reliable (9th Infantry Division publication), October 30, 1968; also, information provided by Barney Tharp (November 2003) at virtualwall.org]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrances from those who knew you attest to their admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will remain i our hearts forever....

Larry, you and I took infantry training together. You were solid gold, the best buddy possible. As I watched the fuss over McCain it brings back even sharper the pain of losing you, at 20 you were at the very least his equal. God only knows America just isn't all it could have been without you, anyone who knew you can confirm this. May you know that I, too think of you constantly and feel your peace at the way things turned out from wherever you are while fifty years later I still struggle with accepting it, the older I get the more I feel the loss. So please forgive me if I hang on to my anger over it and shed tears for you as long as I live, it's the only connection I have left with you. If anyone who reads this knows where he is buried please let me know it would be a privilege to visit his grave.

I still think of you to this day Larry. I will never forget the day your Uncle John got that terrible phone call from your Dad,Uncle Herman,about your death.I remember hearing Dad saying "oh my God no,oh my God!Your Aunt Peggy,Rhonda,Resa and I started crying and were heartbroken.Later we heard stories of your bravery trying to save your men in an ambush,you died in what is called a VA,Violent Action.I remember the good times,popping cherry bombs at Lake Humphreys,buying us those big lolly pops at Nickerson Farms.You were a good man Larry that died way too young.You have always been missed.Love you,Stevie.