THE WALL OF FACES

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

Private First Class Joseph Stanley McKinney, Served with Company C, 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam. Montani Semper Liberi !

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

Dear PFC Joseph McKinney, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. 81 years ago today, WWII began in Europe. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Fire Support Base 25 was located in Kontum Province, approximately 2 1/2 miles northeast of Ben Het in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. In early 1968, FSB 25 was being threatened by an estimated battalion-sized element of the 66th NVA Regiment. The enemy was able to endure American air strikes and artillery fire in their bunkers while trail watchers observed FSB 25. High-speed approaches from their fortified positions allowed them to reach fighting positions as soon as the bombardments ended. At 1230 hours on January 23, 1968, A & C Companies, 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry, conducted a sweep from FSB 25 to nearby Hill 800 to clear a ridge from which they were receiving rocket and recoilless rifle fire. Moving against the enemy positions, the fire was so intense that A Company got pinned down. Suffering numerous casualties, both companies withdrew to the firebase. An intense mortar barrage was then launched against the base. The withering fire hailed on top of bunkers, causing several more casualties and secondary explosions to which a great fire raged, threatening to detonate over 2000 rounds of 4.2-inch mortar rounds. The enemy also hurled white phosphorous rounds which set crates of ammunition on fire. With no water on the hilltop, soldiers scrambled to put the fires out by shoveling dirt on the burning crates. All the fires were extinguished after about 45 minutes. The bombardment resulted in seven American deaths. They included SP4 Hilaire A. Andry Jr., SP4 James M. Berge, SP4 James I Buchner, SP4 Ronnie J. Eskew, SP4 John F. Lobsinger, SP4 Donald G. MacIntosh, and PFC Joseph S. McKinney. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Apache Recon: Because of the Brave” by Michael l. Moomey]