THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your friend Benedetto Tiseo is touching and reflects his admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

Larry and I attended Cooley High School in Detroit in the early 60's. Larry was 1 year ahead of me but we would hang out an attend parties together. We had loads of fun together. I graduated in 1964 from High School and in the summer of 1965 when larry was home just before shipping out to Vietnam 3 of us went to downtown Detroit and we literally partied all night long. We just had a blast. I was driving and I dropped Larry off at his house about 30 minutes before he had to leave home to go to Vietnam. We were outside his house and he hugged me and said Benny this was the most fun I have ever had in my life and thanks for a wonderful night. That was the last time I saw or spoke to Larry. Shortly after I went into the Army on January 16, 1966 and returned in December 1967 from a 13 month tour in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division. It was soon after I learned Larry died in Nam. I remember watching the TV special in 1982 when they dedicated the Vietnam Memorial and read all 58,000+ names. I remember when they read Larry's name and I just cried for the longest time.

Rest In Pease my friend as you are not forgotten.

I remember the summers we spent in Lexington Heights. Will have a memorial after Covid.

Dear Lcpl Larry Mac Donald, Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is Memorial Day weekend, but like none other. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

At the beginning of 1966, LTC Robert T. Hanflin Jr. was the commander of 2nd Battalion (Reinforced), 1st Marines based at Phu Bai Airfield in Thua Thien Province. On February 27, 1966, he received a call for assistance from General Chuan, senior officer of 1st Battalion, 3rd ARVN Regiment. Chuan’s forces, plus a small group of Popular Force and Regional Force Troops, had engaged the 810th Viet Cong Battalion on the supposedly pacified nearby Phu Thu Peninsula. At 2100 hours, Hanflin ordered a night helicopter landing to relieve pressure on the South Vietnamese Battalion. HMM-163 landed three infantry companies of Task Force Hotel into landing zones just north of the peninsula. The following day, supported by the Marine artillery at Phu Bai, Companies F, G, and K advanced abreast toward the southeast. The South Vietnamese provided a blocking force while the Marine companies made a frontal assault against the well-prepared Viet Cong defenses. After bitter fighting, the VC broke contact and withdraw in small disorganized groups. The Marines continued the cleanup phase of the operation, meeting occasional enemy resistance, until March 3rd. The one-week Task Unit Hotel operation, also called New York, killed 120 of the enemy, captured 7 more, and seized 69 weapons. The Marines suffered casualties of 17 dead and 37 wounded. The 17 men were PFC Roger D. Bulifant, CPL Henry C. Casebolt, PFC Warren L. Christensen, LCPL William P. Foran, PFC William A. Fuchs, CPL Charles Johnson, PFC James B. Laird, LCPL Larry E. MacDonald, SSGT Edward J. McCarthy, LCPL Andy McGuire, LCPL Mark L. Morgan, PFC Miguel E. Naranjo, PFC Richard F. Nugent, LCPL Arthur C. Pederson, PFC Darrell T. Ray, PFC Jose Torres, and PFC James R. McLemore. [Taken from virtualwall.org and “U.S. Marines In Vietnam: An Expanding War 1966.” marines.mil]