THE WALL OF FACES

Before dawn on February 28, 1968, Communist forces launched an assault against various Allied military installations in the Saigon area, including Bien Hoa Air Base, 15 miles north of the city in Bien Hoa Province, RVN. Bien Hoa was hit with a barrage of approximately forty 122mm rockets, resulting in 14 U.S. personnel dead and 25 wounded. Twelve of the killed were airmen and another two soldiers. The lost airmen included SGT Martin L. Bennett, SGT James Boyd, SSGT Benjamin Craig Jr., TSGT James N. Galey, SSGT Willard F. Hayes, SGT Thomas G. Hazelwood, TSGT Herbert A. Kehrli, SSGT Charles F. Kerr, TSGT Dallis Perryman, SSGT Robert L. Platt, SSGT Perry V. Shroyer, and TSGT Walter W. Vail; the two soldiers were PFC Roy W. Duncan and SGT Thomas L. Herd. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Viet Cong Lob Shells, Rockets into Allied Bases Near Saigon.” Chicago Tribune, February 28, 1968.]

Staff Sergeant Robert Lloyd Platt, Served with Headquarters Squadron, 3rd Combat Support Group, 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force.

I was five years old when your oldest son came over to tell us you had been killed in Viet Nam and they were moving back to Pennsylvania. That is something my family never forgot. Recently, I found your sons and we chatted through email and shared some memories: birthday parties, swimming, and sharing puppies. One of your sons said he came back with his wife to show her the old neighborhood that we all left behind many many years ago. The old neighborhood was magical.....all of us have some of our first of many memories there. Thank you for being a part of them.

SSGT Robert Platt was assigned to HQ SQDN, 3rd CBT SPT Group, 3rd TAC FTR Wing, 7th AF. He was killed during a rocket and mortar attack on Bien Hoa Airbase on 2/28/1968. Robert and 13 of his fellow servicemen died during this attack. RIP Robert, your bravery, courage and dedication to your country will never be forgotten.