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….

Dear Lt Thomas Petramalo, Thank you for your service as an Airborne Qualified Infantry Unit Commander. Your 85th birthday is in 4 days, happy birthday. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. The 46th anniversary of the fall of Saigon just passed, and it is still sad. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Operation Benton was a military action conducted by the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division in Quang Tin Province, RVN, between August 13-29, 1967. U.S. intelligence placed the North Vietnamese Army’s 21st Regiment in Base Area 117, west of Chu Lai where it was believed to be protecting elements of the NVA’s 368th Artillery Regiment which was readying for rocket attacks on nearby Allied bases. On the first day of the operation, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, was sent to reconnoiter the Base Area when it was attacked by a NVA force while in its night defensive position. The numerically superior enemy mounted a full-scale attack with mortars, rockets, grenades, automatic and small arms fire. Company B returned fire with unit weapons and called for artillery support. While attempting to maneuver, the company was met by intense enemy fire. The Americans consolidated their position and requested USAF C-47 “Spooky” gunship assistance. The enemy pressed the attack, and at 11:50 PM, they again employed mortars, rockets, and grenades as two of its companies attacked the perimeter. B Company fought back with Spooky and helicopter gunships support. The NVA broke contact at 1:55 AM and withdrew, leaving thirty-five (confirmed) dead. U.S. losses were three killed: CPL Danny L. Ingles, SGT Alexander Jackson, and SGT Johnnie H. Patterson. More than a dozen were wounded, including 2LT Thomas Petramalo, who died August 21st of fragmentation wounds from an enemy rocket; and SP4 Ronnie D. Beets, who suffered a serious spine injury. Paralyzed from the waist down, he was medically evacuated to Camp Zama in Japan, and later to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. Beets also received treatment at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Long Beach, CA, for his spinal cord injuries. He was medically retired from the Army in 1970. Beets and his wife adopted two children in 1969 and resided in Oklahoma City while attending the University of Oklahoma. The family moved to Odessa, TX in 1971 where Beets attended Odessa College. He died from complications of his wounds at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa on October 26, 1972. His name was added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in 1986. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, wikipedia.org, veteransmemorial.us, and SP4 Beet’s Silver Star citation]

Second Lieutenant Thomas Petramalo, Served with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, United States Army Vietnam.

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.