THE WALL OF FACES

Today, as I have for the pass 57 years, pause to reflect on the night of July 15, 1967. As a medic, assigned to the medical group on the base I witness the carnage on the base and to the personnel of DaNanag Air Base. A1C Charles Berg along with his firefighting team lost their lives fighting a fire on a plane when a bomb on the plane exploded. Their courage will never be forgotten.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. May you rest in eternal peace.

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.

Shortly after midnight on July 15, 1967, Da Nang Air Base in Quang Nam Province, RVN, came under a heavy rocket attack. The attack started at 12:25 AM and an estimated 50 rounds of 122mm rockets were fired at the installation. Nine USAF personnel were killed during the barrage and 128 others were wounded, 40 of them requiring hospitalization. Another 35 U.S. Army personnel on the base were also wounded. Counter-battery fire was initiated immediately, supported by AC-47 “Spooky” gunships. By 2:00 AM, artillery and air strikes were hitting possible enemy escape routes. The bombardment, which lasted approximately 30 minutes, started numerous fires and resulted in extensive structural damage to U.S. Navy, Marine and Air Force facilities. There was heavy damage to the bomb storage area and moderate damage to the airfield. In addition, eight aircraft were destroyed and 45 aircraft were damaged during the attack. The lost USAF personnel included A1C John S. Berg, A2C Charles F. Boss, A1C James F. Brooks, SSGT David A. Fasnacht, A2C Charles R. Humble, A1C Ronald F. Poole, A2C James H. Price, A2C Jerald K. Sumida, and A2C Charles D. Ward. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and U.S. Naval Forces, Vietnam Monthly Historical Summary, July 1967]

DEAR AIRMAN BERG,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, I DO NOT KNOW YOUR MOS, I COULD NOT FIND IT, BUT, YOU MATTERED. IT IS 2017, WHICH MAKES IT FAR TOO LONG FOR YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. IT IS ALSO PRESIDENTS' DAY WEEKEND. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND YOUR SACRIFICE. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE.. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE.