THE WALL OF FACES

In early 1970, the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) “Skytroopers” conducted operations throughout its area of responsibility in Tay Ninh, Phuoc Long, Binh Long, Binh Duong, and Bien Hoa Provinces with the objective of interdicting enemy infiltration routes, denying enemy access to the population centers, and neutralizing enemy forces. The Division’s 1st Brigade patrolled western War Zone “C” in Tay Ninh Province, an area of high strategic value due to its location between Cambodia and Saigon, and an important infiltration corridor for North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong (NVA/VC) forces and supplies from the Ho Chi Minh Trail. On February 3rd, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment was settled in a night defensive position (NDP) three kilometers (1.8 miles) southeast of Bo Tuc on communal Route 246 when at 1:20 AM they began receiving small arms and automatic weapons fire southwest of their position from an estimated platoon-size force. The Skytroopers returned fire with unit weapons and called artillery onto the enemy positions. Heavy contact broke by 2:00 AM; however, supporting aerial units overhead received .51 caliber fire close to the NDP and rolled in on the NVA gun position. While engaging the enemy, rounds impacted inside A Company’s position, killing two and wounding one other. A medivac helicopter requested to the scene was unable to land due to the still active .51 caliber gun. At 4:10 AM, an NVA squad maneuvering near the NDP were engaged by the Skytroopers who killed seven of the enemy. Rocket-propelled rounds carried by the NVA were reportedly detonated by U.S. fire. A Company sustained two more killed in the fighting, including a Vietnamese Kit Carson scout embedded with the Americans. Four other Skytroopers were wounded, two seriously. Sporadic enemy fire continued until 5:20 AM; twenty-five minutes later, aerial units observed and engaged an estimated enemy platoon 200 yards north of the NDP, killing five NVA. By 7:55 AM, a medivac was able to recover the U.S. dead and wounded. The lost Skytroopers included PFC Danny L. Jones and PFC Larry E. Newman (both killed by friendly fire), and SSG Jesse C. Creekmore and PFC Charles H. Wright. A sweep of the battle area revealed two more dead NVA, and two AK-47 rifles, miscellaneous equipment, and several documents captured. [Sourced at coffeltdatabase.org and “Operational Report - Lessons Learned, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), Period Ending 30 April 1970” at archive .com]

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotions and spends himself in a great worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end triumph of high achievement and, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while caring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold, timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers