HONORED ON PANEL 3E, LINE 35 OF THE WALL
JERRY LEE POTTER
WALL NAME
JERRY L POTTER
PANEL / LINE
3E/35
DATE OF BIRTH
CASUALTY PROVINCE
DATE OF CASUALTY
HOME OF RECORD
COUNTY OF RECORD
STATE
BRANCH OF SERVICE
RANK
REMEMBRANCES
LEFT FOR JERRY LEE POTTER
POSTED ON 8.11.2018
POSTED BY: [email protected]
Final Mission of PFC Jerry L. Potter
Operation Hump was a search and destroy operation initiated by the U.S. Army on November 5, 1965, with the objective of driving out Viet Cong (VC) fighters who had taken up positions on several key hills north of Bien Hoa in Bien Hoa Province, RVN. Little contact was made through November 7th, when Sky Soldiers from B and C Companies,1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, settled into a night defensive position southeast of Hill 65, a triple-canopied covered jungle hill. Early on November 8th, C Company began a move northwest toward Hill 65, while B Company moved northeast toward nearby Hill 78. C Company became engaged by a sizeable enemy force, well dug in to the southern face of Hill 65, armed with machine guns and shotguns. B Company was directed to wheel in place and proceed toward Hill 65 with the intention of relieving C Company, often relying on fixed bayonets to repel daring close-range attacks by small bands of masked VC fighters. As B Company reached the foot of Hill 65, it became obvious that there was a large enemy force in place on the hill. C Company was suffering heavy casualties. The enemy force—most of a VC regiment—shifted their position to the northwest, whereupon the B Company commander called in air and incendiary artillery fire on the retreating rebels. The shells scorched the foliage and caught many VC fighters ablaze, exploding the ammunition and grenades they carried. The VC commander realized that his best chance was to close in with the U.S. forces so that the 173rd's air and artillery fire could not be effectively employed. The result was shoulder-to-shoulder attacks up the hillside, with hand-to-hand fighting. The Americans held against two such attacks, and by late afternoon it seemed that contact had been broken, allowing the two companies to prepare a night defensive position and collect their dead and wounded. American paratroopers inflicted 403 killed (by body count) on the enemy but lost 49 dead in the process. The lost Sky Soldiers included PFC Rudolph R. Aguilar, SP4 James Belton, SFC Bryant Brayboy Jr., PFC Herman Brown, SSG Magno Campos, SFC Henry T. Cannon, PFC Lavalle E. Carlton, SSG Samuel A. Eidson, PFC Gary L. Elmore, PFC Byron J. Foster, SP4 Everett W. Goias, PFC Harold Goldman, PFC Kenneth E. Graham, SGT Lloyd V. Greene, PFC Joseph T. Hamilton, PFC John E. Hannigan III, SP4 Robert W. Harden Jr., SSG Clifton W. Harrington, PSG Leroy Hill, SGT Rebel L. Holcomb, SGT Lawrence P. Howard Jr., SGT John A. Hughlett, SP4 Wayne W. Humphries, SGT Theodore R. Jones Jr., SGT David L. Keel, CPL Cleo Lockett, PFC Valentine Marquez, PFC Michael K. Mathison, PFC Michael M. Medley, PVT Charles L. Mitchell Jr., SP4 John A. Nathan, PFC Steve Orris III, PFC Jerry L. Potter, PFC Michael P. Russo, PFC Dennis D. Rutowski, SSG Theodore M. Shamblin, PFC Harold M. Smith, PFC Daniel J. Sobota, SP4 Cordell Spencer, SP4 Scip Tate, 2LT Clair H. Thurston Jr., PFC Samuel S. Tolliver, SP4 Thomas A. Turnage, 2LT David L. Ugland, PFC Davis Uptain, SP4 Vincent George, PFC Danny R. Ward, PFC Kelly E. Whitaker, and SGT Troy B. Williams. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and wikipedia.org]
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POSTED ON 6.13.2018
POSTED BY: jerry sandwisch wood cty.ohio nam vet 1969-70 army 173rd abn bde
You are not forgotten
The war may be forgotten but the warrior will always be remembered. All gave Some-Some gave All. Rest in peace Sky Soldier.
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POSTED ON 6.5.2018
POSTED BY: Mike Switzer
Tribute to Sky Soldier
On behalf of our fellow paratroopers who served with you in the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) and all who followed, we offer our respect and remembrance of your ultimate sacrifice. May you never be forgotten and your family and friends take comfort in your valor in serving.
Also Big & Rich sing of you in "8th of November"
Also Big & Rich sing of you in "8th of November"
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POSTED ON 10.26.2013
POSTED BY: Curt Carter
Remembering An American Hero
Dear PFC Jerry Lee Potter, 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
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
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