THE WALL OF FACES

During the late summer of 1970, following its withdrawal from Cambodia, the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) conducted combat operations in War Zone III. Primary activities included interdicting enemy infiltration routes along the border with Cambodia, targeting main force, local force, and enemy headquarters, and locating and destroying enemy ammunition caches. Ground combat during the month of August was moderate, with most enemy-initiated contacts occurring as they defended cache sites. On August 2nd, Third Platoon, A Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, was patrolling in the hills in Lam Dong Province, RVN. About mid-morning, they received a radio report that a Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP’s)had made contact with the enemy. Third Platoon moved to a clearing and were picked up by helicopters and carried to the patrol’s location. After a quick briefing, the LRRP’s boarded the aircraft and were carried away. The platoon entered the jungle single-file unaware that an unknown-sized North Vietnamese Army (NVA) force was shadowing them. After passing a small wooded area, the concealed enemy opened fire. Two Americans were hit, the rest of the platoon dropped to the ground and returned fire. The platoon leader, a lieutenant in his first firefight, began screaming into the radio for help. Another man risked his life pulling the hysterical lieutenant down when he stood up during the fighting. The radio was passed back to the radio operator who was able to bring in Army Cobra AH-1G attack helicopters. The gunships worked over the enemy positions causing them to break contact. A medivac was called to evacuate the two casualties. One man, PFC Perry G. Black, was dead from a chest wound before he made it on the helicopter. He was posthumously promoted to Corporal. The other survived after losing a portion of his shoulder. A check of the contact area revealed one NVA dead and several blood trails. Third Platoon then resumed patrolling. About a week later, during a brief respite at Phuoc Vinh Base Camp, an enlisted man from Third Platoon backed the lieutenant against a wall with his M16 rifle to his throat threatening to kill him before he was pulled off. Shortly after, the lieutenant was transferred to a different unit for his own safety. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Operational Report - Lessons Learned, Headquarters, 1st Calvary Division, Period Ending 31 October 1970” at archive.org; also, information provided by Buck Buchanan (November 2023)]

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

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

Buddy this is Taco, I was from Nebr. we went through AIT together at Ft.Ord California. Rest well my friend, I still miss you.

As your 69th birthday approaches, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Forever 18.

HOOAH