THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrances from those who served with you are touching and reflect their admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever….

On October 18, 1968, elements of the 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division clashed with an estimated Viet Cong (VC) battalion about ten miles south of Cai Lay in Dinh Tuong Province, RVN. The fighting killed fifty-nine enemy at the cost of seven U.S. lives. Acting on intelligence, the "Doughboys" of D Troop, 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry were flown in to establish contact and immediately taken under fire. An intense firefight broke out as the enemy withdrew to a bunker line near a river. As the infantrymen moved toward the tree line, they came under heavy fire, wounding SP4 Ronald M. Delp. Others exposed themselves to pull Delp to safety; however, Delp was hit again and killed, and the unit's radio operator (RTO) was hit in the chest. As medic PFC Wayne J. Benes worked on the RTO, he was hit and mortally wounded. A D Troop UH-1D helicopter (#66-16480) was loaded with the casualties but was brought down by small arms and a rocket-propelled grenade round while lifting out. PFC Michael D. Paonessa, a radio liaison with the ground troops, became trapped beneath the downed ship and inundated with JP4 jet fuel. Brute force (reportedly twenty men) lifted the helicopter enough to remove Paonessa and he was medevacked to a base hospital; however, he sustained fatal damage to his lungs after inhaling JP4 and died the next day. Paonessa was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Additional troops from 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry were airlifted into the contact area. Alpha Company, 1/16th Infantry, led by 2nd Platoon, was ambushed while attempting to reach the downed helicopter, killing SSG Otis L. Norris Jr., SGT Larry D. Bennett, and SGT Randall E. Welch. Supporting arms were placed on enemy positions as 105mm, 155mm, and eight-inch artillery pounded the VC. During the night, B Company, 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry engaged eight VC in two sampans trying to escape. A multitude of enemy weapons were captured, and ten pounds of documents recovered. An infantryman from D-6/31st, SGT Lester C. Mc Ginnis II, was killed in the fighting. The next day, fleeing enemy were killed by gunships, artillery, and Air Force strikes. Sixteen suspects were detained, dozens of bunkers destroyed, and more enemy weapons were captured. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “‘Go Devils’ kill 59 Viet Cong.” The Old Reliable (9th Infantry Division publication), October 30, 1968; also, information provided by Barney Tharp (November 2003) at virtualwall.org]

I was in NCOC school with Otis, as good a soldier as they come. He stood out among his peers and I am once again sadden by his death way too soon. I go to the NCOC website often to remember them. It has gotten easier to write about them.
SSG Michael DeHart

Dear SSgt Otis Norris, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Staff Sergeant Otis Leslie Norris Jr., Served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division.