THE WALL OF FACES

During the late summer and early fall of 1970, following its withdrawal from Cambodia, the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) continued combat operations in War Zone III. Its 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. Beginning September 1st, elements of Third Brigade deployed to Binh Thuy Province to assume the mission of eliminating the 33rd North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Regiment and local Viet Cong (VC) forces. On October 19th, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry was performing ground reconnaissance nine kilometers (5.4 miles) west of Nui Den Mountain (Hill 506) when it encountered a bunker complex of unknown size. While sweeping the area, the company received heavy rocket-propelled grenade and automatic weapons fire from an undetermined-sized enemy force concealed in the bunkers. A Company returned fire with unit weapons and directed artillery onto the enemy positions. Heavy enemy fire continued until 6:30 PM with sporadic fire until 7:30 PM. The company sustained one killed, PFC Daniel L. Fries, and six wounded. Enemy losses were unknown. Fries was posthumously promoted to Corporal. The Americans withdrew to the south where they set up an overnight defensive position. During a resupply mission, a second casualty was sustained when a container dropped by helicopter struck platoon sergeant SFC Dencil R. Blankenship on the head, fatally injuring him. The family of Blankenship, a ten-year Army veteran, did not learn the true circumstances of his death until ten weeks later when a revised casualty report was issued December 29, 1970. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Operational Report - Lessons Learned, Headquarters, 1st Calvary Division, Period Ending 31 October 1970” at archive.org]

Image courtesy of Redbird Research LLC, Saint Charles, MO.

SFC Blankenship was my drill sergeant at Fort Jackson SC in June-July 1970. He was a great teacher and a fine man. RIP

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

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