THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. That you died just one week after your deployment to Vietnam and on your first day in combat operations is truly sad. May you rest in eternal peace.

Operation MacArthur was a U.S. Army military operation conducted by the 4th Infantry Division in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam from October 1967 to January 1969. The division was responsible for the defense of the provincial and district capitals that lay along National Highway QL-14, an interprovincial paved road that ran north to south through the middle of the Central Highlands. The general mission was to conduct surveillance and offensive operations along the Cambodian border and destroy North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong units. On September 30, 1968, the 3rd Platoon of C Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry, was conducting combat operations about four miles southwest of Landing Zone Saber at Duc Lap along QL-14 in Quang Duc Province. Third Platoon was the forward element of the company-sized operation and had a squad on point maneuvering along a wood line adjacent to the highway. At 12:15 PM, it walked into an L-shaped ambush sprung by an estimated North Vietnamese Army (NVA) company. The squad received intense small arms, machine gun, mortar, and B-40 rocket fire to its front and right flank. Many were killed and wounded by the devastating enemy fire. The point element fought back, with numerous heroic acts committed by the men of 3rd Platoon, many of which were recorded in posthumous awards for bravery. The rest of C Company came to their aid, followed by other battalion units. Supporting arms assisted the besieged Americans, including a 4th Aviation Battalion gunship that was shot down at 2:50 PM; the crew escaped injury. Contact broke at 5:30 PM, leaving twelve U.S. dead and fifteen wounded. The lost personnel included PFC Johnny T. Fuller, PFC Edward Golda, PFC Alberto Hernandez-Velez, PFC Charles A. Holbrook, PFC Richard L. McClain, PFC James G. Mesa, PFC Kenneth W. Miller, PFC Harrison B. Shauger, SP4 Timothy D. Sines (medic from HHC/2/35), SP4 Ronald Stucky, and PFC Hamp E. Zornes. Also lost was PFC Ulys F. Hamilton from B/2/35 while moving to assist C Company. Only one NVA was confirmed killed; three rifles and a light machine gun were captured. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, cacti35th.org, and “Lessons Learned, Operational Report of the 4th Infantry Division for the period ending 31 October 1968” at ttu.edu]

Dear PFC Richard McClain, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. 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.

Although only in vietnam 2 weeks he was awarded the Bronze Star for valor.

Dear PFC Richard Larry McClain, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice 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. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

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

Curt Carter