THE WALL OF FACES

The Lord will protect you on your journey!

Sergeant James Bingenheimer, in addition to the Silver Star Medal previously posted, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for Valor, with Combat Distinguishing Device (V), for his sustained heroism and meritorious service. He served as a Rifleman and was assigned to A CO, 1ST RECON BN, 1ST MARDIV,.
See https://marines.togetherweserved.com/

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. Your Silver Star citation attests to your bravery and devotion to your country. May you rest in eternal peace.

On March 14, 1971, a seven-man patrol from A Company, 1st Recon Battalion, 1st Marine Division was launched from its battalion base camp at Hill 327 (Camp Reasoner) near Da Nang in Quang Nam Province, RVN. The mission was to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance operations for four days in the Charlie Ridge area five miles northwest of Hill 65. The team consisted of six Marine riflemen and one Navy corpsman. On the morning of the second day, they were still in their overnight harbor site waiting for the weather to clear (it had drizzled the entire night) when a single Viet Cong carrying a rifle was observed moving on a trail near their position. The team took the enemy combatant under fire and killed him. The body was searched, and all his gear and rifle were recovered. The team then moved though the brush up Charlie Ridge and came to a security halt by a large boulder and log surrounded by trees. The patrol leader, SGT James Bingenheimer, stood up to check the area when he was hit by enemy rifle fire. The team returned fire while the corpsman began providing aid to the critically wounded Bingenheimer, who was hit twice, in the left kidney and spine near the small of his back. The aidman worked for some 45 minutes, applying a battle dressing and administering rescue breaths and chest compressions to resuscitate their dying patrol leader. The battalion surgeon was consulted by radio, and despite the best efforts of the corpsman, Bingenheimer expired. His body was placed in a poncho as the team began evasive maneuvers. Air support came on station as Marine AH-1G Cobra attack helicopters provided coverage for the besieged patrol, reporting they observed up to two hundred enemy searching for them. They found an overnight harbor, and artillery plotted around their position kept the Viet Cong at bay. In the morning, they were recovered by a Marine CH-46 utilizing a SPIE rig to rapidly extract the team. The next day, a memorial service conducted by the battalion chaplain was held for Bingenheimer at Camp Reasoner. Bingenheimer was posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal for his actions during the patrol. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, “Command Chronology – Danang (1st Recon Bn, A Co)” at ttu.edu, and information provided by A. L. Belluscio (July 2020)]

DEAR SERGEANT JAMES BINGENHEIMER,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A RIFLEMAN. SEMPER FI. IT HAS BEEN FAR TOO LONG FOR ALL OF YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND YOUR SACRIFICE. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE.. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE. MANY OF US HAVE BEGUN OUR JOURNEY TO EASTER. YOU ARE ALL IN OUR PRAYERS.