THE WALL OF FACES

Hi Uncle Theodore, thinking of you and great it would have been to have you around. You’re with all of your brothers, and Nanny, Pop-pop.
Thank you for your service
Xoxo love, your Niece Kristen
(Your brother Gary’s daughter)

On the morning of August 12, 1969, a team of Combat Engineers from C Company, 39th Engineer Battalion (Combat) was conducting a routine mine clearance operation on National Route QL-1 northwest of Duc Pho in Quang Ngai Province, RVN. The standard mine sweep procedure had two Engineers with mine detectors in the road surrounded by a security detail and followed by two five-ton dump trucks moving in reverse. The dump truck operators stood on the running boards facing backwards with their left hand on the steering wheel. The dump beds were filled with dirt, and each held a Combat Engineer manning a .50 caliber machine gun. When the team was approximately12 kilometers (7.2 miles) from Duc Pho, the left wheels of dump truck C33 rolled over a mine placed by the Viet Cong (VC) that the electromagnetic mine detectors missed. The explosion killed driver PFC Theodore F. Benvenuto Jr. and blew the gunner out of the bed. VC concealed on both sides of the roadway opened fire with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. The Americans fought back, returning fire with unit weapons. The results of the contact were one dead (Benvenuto) and ten U.S. wounded, three requiring medical evacuation. One wounded VC was captured. The dump truck was destroyed, and a ¼-ton truck (jeep) was also lost. Combat wreckers came to the scene and towed them to the motor pool graveyard at LZ Snoopy. In the days following the incident, the Battalion chaplain came out to Snoopy and conducted a memorial service in Benvenuto’s honor. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Phil S. Goudelias (October 2023)]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrances from those who knew you are moving. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.

Teddy was in my homeroom and several classes in at EMHS Class of '66.I think he was the only one we lost from our class and there is a plaque honoring him in the hallway at the high school.He was loved by all.
As ever,
John Bernstein,Sgt
"B"Co. 1st Bn./501st Inf.(Abn)
101st Abn. Div. Vietnam '67-'68