THE WALL OF FACES

During the early years of the Vietnam War, personnel assigned as warehousemen were generally untrained and inexperienced in supply operations. In order to increase efficiency, bring overstock levels down, and to identify and reduce excesses, the Department of the Army instituted Project COUNTER. Early in 1967, a group of supply assistance personnel from U.S. Army Materiel Command organizations were sent to Vietnam on temporary duty under the code name Project COUNTER. These people provided formal instruction in supply procedures and assisted in-county personnel in supply management activities. A total of four Project COUNTER teams were deployed during 1967-1968 and proved extremely helpful in upgrading the technical competence of supply personnel in Vietnam. On the late evening of May 6, 1968, a Senior Supply Sergeant from Fort Leavenworth, KS, on temporary duty with the Project COUNTER program, died in Phuoc Tuy Province, RVN. MSG Patrick J. McCabe was killed in a hotel four kilometers north of Vung Tau city after an explosion occurred. Army investigators later determined McCabe had taken his own life using a grenade. He was 43 years old. A World War II, Korea, and Vietnam veteran, McCabe had served in the Army over 22 years. He was survived by his wife and four children. [Sourced at coffeltdatabase.org and usmilitariaforum.com]

Image courtesy of Redbird Research LLC, Saint Charles, MO.

Say not in grief he is no more, but live in thankfulness that he was.

Dear Msgt Patrick McCabe, Thank you for your service as a Senior Supply/Service Sergeant. Your 96th birthday was 4 days ago, happy birthday. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Time passes quickly, but our world needs help. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Master Sergeant Patrick Joseph McCabe, Served with Project Counter, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Logistical Command, United States Army Vietnam.