THE WALL OF FACES

Some may think you are forgotten
Though on earth you are no more
But in our memory you are with us
As you always were before….

The 25th Infantry Division began 1970 with an assault on Nui Ba Den Mountain (Black Virgin Mountain) in Tay Ninh Province, RVN, the suspected headquarters for part of the Viet Cong’s Provisional Revolutionary Government. The mountain was also a staging area for attacks on the provincial capital, Tay Ninh City. During Operation Cliff Dweller IV, U.S. troops swept the mountain’s rugged northeastern slope. The 1st Brigade’s 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, provided most of the men, with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor, and part of the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, waiting at the bottom of the slope as a blocking force. Before dawn on January 4th, tanks and infantry took up positions at the foot of Nui Ba Den. At 8:00 AM, helicopters began delivering the 3rd Battalion’s Companies B and C to the summit. Soon afterward, other helicopters deposited the battalion’s reconnaissance platoon on the mountain’s northern shoulder from which they could observe the progress of Companies B and C and block any attempts by the enemy to escape in that direction. Descending the precipitous slope was slow work, and both companies had to stop for the night less than halfway down. Rain overnight soaked the rocks, further impeding the infantry’s movement the next morning, but the troops reached the foot of the mountain unscathed. Continued searches the following day uncovered some caches but contact with the enemy remained light. On the morning of January 8th, however, the enemy opened fire from concealed positions, leading to steady contact until the operation terminated on January 11th. The Americans killed 159 North Vietnamese at a loss of five dead and fifty-five wounded. The lost personnel included (A-3/22) PFC George M. Hines (posthumously promoted to Corporal) and SP4 John E. Nierer (posthumously promoted to Sergeant); (E-3/22) PFC James R. Rutledge Jr. (posthumously promoted to Corporal); (A-2/34th Armor) SP4 Harlan K. Gammons Jr. (posthumously awarded the Bronze Star medal); and (B-4/23) SP4 Danny J. Petersen (posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor). [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “The Drawdown: 1970-1971” by Andrew J. Birtle & John R. Maass]

I just read a posting of your story and what happened fifty-three years ago today. You have not been forgotten. The selfless sacrifice of the rest of your life saved countless others, and I pray God has rewarded you in heaven. Rest assured your memory will live forever.

You died on my 7th birthday. I’m sure it was a good day for me. A half a world away you put aside every comfort , every thought of self preservation, every chance to make it back, for your men. For your brothers by your side. For America & a kid who was oblivious to the horror you faced that day. I would go on to become a sp/4 in the army myself. I served in peacetime and gave only time. You gave all you could possibly give at a time of war. Yours is an extraordinary story. Thank you for your ultimate sacrifice. You are not forgotten.

You died on my 7th birthday. I’m sure it was a good day for me. A half a world away you put aside every comfort , every thought of self preservation, every chance to make it back, for your men. For your brothers by your side. For America & a kid who was oblivious to the horror you faced that day. I would go on to become a sp/4 in the army myself. I served in peacetime and gave only time. You gave all you could possibly give at a time of war. Yours is an extraordinary story. Thank you for your ultimate sacrifice. You are not forgotten.