THE WALL OF FACES

Unfortunately ended up killing and wounding those he was fighting to protect.

SP 4 Michael J. Mc Goldrick, We never met ! You are a true hero who gave all to the cause of freedom . A top soldier , Air Borne , awarded a Bronze Star, pluse other medals for service in the Republic of South Viet Nam. Your family was extremely proud of you. RIP
Sp 4. J M .R. 27 th Combat Eng. Blackhorse S.V.N. 67 -68

Operation Kahala (April 16-21, 1966) was a 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division search and destroy operation in the Trang Bang district in Hau Nghia Province, RVN. On the first day of the operation, the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 27th Infantry Regiment, made an airmobile move to their assigned objectives while the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment was set up in a blocking position. Companies B and C, 2/27th attacked east, conducting search and destroy operations in the area. Meanwhile, A-2/27th remained at Cu Chi Base Camp to provide security and perform area patrols. That evening, a five-man fire team from A-2/27th was preparing for a night ambush patrol at their bunker on the perimeter of Cu Chi. It was a little before dark, and the men were checking their equipment and ammunition. One man sitting on the bunker, SP4 Michael J. McGoldrick, asked the Team Leader (TL) what he should do with a grenade he was holding. The TL, a sergeant, caustically responded he didn’t “give a f—k” what he did with it. Moments later, a powerful explosion occurred. McGoldrick was killed instantly, disembodied by the blast. Several team members were critically injured. The TL went down with shrapnel wounds to the head. Another man, PFC Walter H. Anderson, died after sustaining metal fragmentation wounds to the left eye, left leg, and chest. Medics arrived, and the casualties were placed on stretchers and carried in jeeps to the medical aid station. Infantryman SP4 Okey L. Sands died on arrival from fragmentation injuries to the head and chest. Men were triaged and evacuated by helicopter to Saigon-area Army hospitals. One critically injured 18-year-old trooper with ruptured eardrums, a collapsed lung, and injuries to his intestines, had his spleen removed during surgery. An inquiry was opened to gather facts about the incident; however, it is unclear what outcome it produced as the Army generally provided very little details regarding such investigations. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, “25th Infantry Division, Operational Report on Lessons Learned, 1 Jan – 30 Apr 66” at archive.org, and information provided by Larry Knapp (May 2024)]

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed...
We feel lucky to have seen it.

I’m older than you ever got to be. But you shaped my life, I had a standard to live up to. I have fallen short at times. But like you, I got back up and got it done. I wish I could have meet you. You will never be forgotten.