THE WALL OF FACES

1LT Dwight Blackwater is buried at Blackwater Cemetery in Blackwater, Arizona.

Following Operation Lam Son 719 (February 8 - March 25, 1971), U.S. ground forces concentrated on defending critical bases while the South Vietnamese assumed primary responsibility for the ground war. The days of massive U.S. offensive operations were over, and ground activity now centered on patrolling and sweeping the rocket belts, strips of land from which the enemy could fire barrages at bases and cities. This security role was dubbed Dynamic Defense, and by the end of the year all U.S. ground units had shifted into it. In the jungled western regions in I Corps, the 101st Airborne Division gradually disengaged from direct contact with North Vietnamese Army units and concentrated on dynamic defense in its assigned coastal region. The Americal Division fulfilled a similar role in the southern I Corps. On June 19, 1971, during combat operations nine kilometers (5.4 miles) southeast of Que Son in Quang Tin Province, RVN, members of an Americal unit from D Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade were in a landing zone awaiting a resupply aircraft. At approximately 9:30 AM, those monitoring noticed the battalion radio net come to life, filled with chatter about an accident discharge incident within 1st Platoon. The code word for “platoon leader” was used, meaning D Company’s 1LT Dwight T. Blackwater, commander of 1st Platoon, was in need of an urgent aeromedical evacuation. It was later conveyed that Blackwater reportedly picked up his M16 rifle with attached M203 grenade launcher when a 40mm grenade round was discharged, the projectile striking him in the throat. Because of the short distance the round travelled, it failed to arm and did not detonate. A medivac “dustoff” arrived within ten minutes to pick up Blackwater; however, he was dead on arrival at the 91st Evacuation Hospital at Chu Lai. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, “Engineers at War” by Adrian G. Traas, and information provided by Timothy R. Stives, LTC U.S. Army (ret.) (June 2023)]

I was a 1LT in his outfit, we were very good friends. He was an excellent platoon leader, respected by his men and the officers in our battalion. I remember his smile and unbelievable amount of energy and courage. To this day I still miss him. His family should be very proud of him.
1LT J. R. Thomson

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us...

I met 1LT Blackwater on Fire Support Base Professional in 1971 and appreciated his professionalism and good humor. A good soldier and good man, his death was a shock to us all.

Rest in peace, Dwight.