THE WALL OF FACES

Never forgotten.

HOOAH, Doc

On January 10, 1968, Mobile Riverine soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 9th Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade engaged in bitter fighting in the Cai Be District in western Dinh Tuong Province, approximately fifty miles southwest of Saigon. The contact targeted the 261st Main Force (VC) Battalion, considered the best equipped and toughest enemy force in the Mekong Delta. The fighting broke out shortly after 1:00 PM as A Company, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry was inserted by helicopter and met stiff resistance when landed in a VC base area. The Americans were caught out in the open by the VC's well-prepared, camouflaged positions and sustained moderate casualties from automatic weapons, small arms, and rifle grenade fire. C Company, 3/60th immediately moved overland toward the battleground and ran into a VC platoon headed in the opposite direction. The U.S. troops forced the enemy to return southward where they were pounded by artillery and air strikes. As the battle progressed into the late afternoon, all elements of 3/60th and the 4/47th plus Company A, 3/47th were drawn into positions completely encircling the enemy forces. Contact ranged from sporadic to heavy until 10:30 PM. Just before midnight, a flotilla of fleeing enemy sampans was hit by U.S. gunship and artillery fire. When the combat ceased, twenty-six enemy bodies were found. Continued sweep operations the next day located twenty-one fresh graves believed to have been from the sampan engagement. U.S. losses were nineteen killed and fifty wounded. The lost personnel included (3rd Bn, 34th Arty) 1LT Edward W. Argy, PVT Norman W. Bates, and PFC Gordon L. Goins (posthumously promoted to Corporal); (HHC, 3/60th) medic PFC Lee R. Birden; (A-3/60th) PFC William B. Cameron, PFC Herman R. Fletcher, SGT David H. Hershberger, SGT Anthony J. Lederer, 1LT Harry P. Mc Falls, PVT Richard W. Shiver, and SP4 Glen A. Zeigler; (C-3/60th) PFC William M. Bridgeford, SSG Willie J. Cottrell, PFC David C. Daily (posthumously promoted to Corporal), SGT Henry J. Doneski, PFC Alex J. Hernandez, SSG Robert L. Hutchison, and SP4 Robert I. Moore; (43rd Inf Plt Scout Dog) SGT Bobby D. Crawford; and (240th Assault Helicopter Company) SP5 Martin D. Klann, the crew chief of a UH-1H (#66-16185) helicopter hit in flight by groundfire. Klann was taken to the 24th Evacuation Hospital where he expired. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “MRF soldiers slay 47 enemy in Delta.” The Old Reliable (9th Inf Div publication), January 24, 1968]

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. May you rest in eternal peace.

Private First Class Lee Roy Birden, Served with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.