THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. You died at 18 years of age. I am 74 and have lived a long and fulfilling life. It is tragic you never had that same opportunity. May you rest in eternal peace.

The 205th Assault Helicopter Company was a medium-lift helicopter unit flying CH-47 Chinook aircraft. Deployed to Vietnam in the spring of 1967, the 205th was stationed at Phu Loi Base Camp, approximately twelve miles north of Saigon in Binh Duong Province, RVN. They provided troop and cargo transport for U.S. and allied ground troops. Around the Phu Loi base area was an active and aggressive Viet Cong insurgency which launched periodic assaults on the installation. On the evening of April 29, 1968, the 205th sent out a group of 15-20 men to conduct an overnight ambush patrol. Their objective was Tanh Phuoc Khanh, a hamlet aproximately1000 yards outside the perimeter wire. Intelligence reports described Viet Cong movement into the village during the night, and the patrol sought to intercept and kill or capture the enemy combatants. While in the process of setting up their ambush, the patrol was taken under fire by a hostile force. The Americans returned fire, suffering one killed, infantryman SP4 Arthur F. McQuade Jr., and several others wounded. They were able to withdraw with their dead and wounded and return to Phu Loi. One member of the patrol was unaccounted for until the following morning when he returned to base, reportedly slipping into a village hooch during the firefight where he hid until daylight. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, geronimos.org, and information provided by Steve Banko (June 2022)]

On the remembrance of your 71st birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Forever 18.

HOOAH

Dear Sp4 Arthur McQuade, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Today is the anniversary of the terror attacks. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Arthur...Honoring You on your birthday...God bless.