THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your niece Briana Curran is touching and reflects her admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever….

Dear PO2C Jerry Phillips, Thank you for your service as an Engineman 2nd Class on the USCGC POINT WELCOME. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Today is 76th anniversary of V.E. Day. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Semper Paratus Shipmate! We coasties will never forget your service to the nation.

USCGC Point Welcome (WPB-82329) was an 82-foot (25 m) Point-class cutter assigned to Division 12 of Squadron One to be based at Da Nang, RVN. In the pre-dawn hours of August 11, 1966, Point Welcome was about three-quarters of a mile south of the 17th parallel, in the limits of the DMZ, when she was attacked by three aircraft of the U.S. Air Force while on patrol in the waters near the mouth of the Cua Viet River. Her commanding officer, LTJG David C. Brostrom, along with one crewman, EN2 Jerry Phillips, were killed in this friendly fire incident. The ship's executive officer, LTJG Ross Bell, was severely wounded, leaving Chief Boatswain's Mate Richard Patterson in charge with several of the crew injured. A South Vietnamese liaison officer, LTJG Do Viet Vien, and civilian freelance journalist Timothy J. Page, were aboard during the incident. Patterson saved the cutter and the surviving crew at great risk to himself. He was awarded a Bronze Star with the combat "V" device for his actions that were described in his award citation: "The first attack caused a blazing gasoline fire on the fantail of the cutter that threatened to engulf the entire after section of the vessel. Chief Patterson, displaying the finest qualities of bravery and leadership, took charge of the situation and using a fire hose, forced the flaming liquid over the side, thus extinguishing the fire. Even as he was accomplishing this task, he saw the second aircraft attack rip through the pilot house killing the cutter's commanding officer and seriously wounding the executive officer and the helmsman. Unhesitatingly, and with complete disregard for his personal safety, Chief Patterson climbed to the bridge and took command. He ordered the crew to carry the wounded to the comparative safety of the below decks area. Alone on the bridge, he then maneuvered the cutter at high speed to avoid subsequent attacks. When it became apparent that he could not successfully evade the attacking aircraft, he ran the cutter close ashore, and directed the crew to abandon ship. Under his composed leadership, the wounded were wrapped in life jackets and paired with the able bodied before going over the side. Chief Patterson kept his crew calm and organized while they were in the water and until they were picked up by rescue craft." The cutter Point Caution came to the assistance of the Point Welcome and along with other units, rescued those in the water. Soon thereafter, Patterson and those of his crew that were not seriously wounded returned to their cutter. They then sailed Point Welcome back to Da Nang under her own power. She was repaired after a three-month overhaul and returned to service. Investigations by the Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) involving 37 witnesses were conducted from the 15th through the 23rd of August 1966 and concluded with a statement to the Commandant of the Coast Guard that: "It is evident from the record that there was a lack of coordination between different component forces operating in the same area, and that existing orders and instructions pertaining to identification and recognition of friendly forces were not observed." [Taken from wikipedia.org]

Dear EN2 Jerry Phillips, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter