THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever….

Dear PFC Joseph Riggle, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. The 20th anniversary of 9/11 is soon, and still very sad. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Remembering you when I was a small child. Your were my brothers best friend. His best man at his 1st wedding. You were always so nice to me. I'm in my 60's now, and still think about you. I remember your funeral, it was such a very sad time in my young life. God bless you, will never forget...........Mary Rozinsky Hufnagel

OBITUARY Published in THE VALLEY INDEPENDENT Thursday, December 9, 1965...Ex Claysville Man Killed in Viet Nam
A former Claysville man was killed in Viet Nam on Sunday in action against the Viet Cong. PFC Joseph Riggle, of Coraopolis, died of multiple gunshot wounds suffered while his unit was on a "Search and Destroy" mission in an undisclosed location in Viet Nam.

PFC Riggle was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Riggle, former residents of Claysville who now live in Coraopolis. He was 24 years of age and would have been eligible for discharge in January. Riggle, who was a member of the Second Battalion, First Infantry Division, was a graduate of Moon Twp. High School and the Pittsburgh Automation Institute.

Surviving in addition to his parents are one sister, Mrs. Wanda (H. Marvin) Boyer, of Finleyville, and one brother John (1937-1998), at home.

Operation Bloodhound, later renamed Operation Bushmaster II, commenced on December 1, 1965, when 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment (2/2nd Infantry) was put on the ground at Landing Zone (LZ) Dallas inside the Michelin Rubber Plantation in Binh Duong Province, RVN. LZ Dallas served as the command post in the operation. From December 2–5, the Americans searched the area southeast of LZ Dallas in the Viet Cong 272nd Regiment’s base area known as the Long Nguyen Secret Zone. At midday on December 5th, three companies from the 2/2nd Infantry came under fire from Viet Cong bunkers. A U.S. attempt to outflank the Viet Cong position was repulsed, and a Viet Cong force then attempted to outflank the Americans who withdrew into a defensive perimeter. The 2/2nd Infantry commander, LTC Shuffer, called for air and artillery support and the 8th Battalion, 6th Artillery Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 32nd Artillery Regiment, provided fire support on the southwestern perimeter, while air strikes were conducted on the east and helicopter gunships strikes on the north. The Viet Cong attempted to escape this firepower by "hugging" the American positions, but were forced back by small arms fire. The barrage continued for over four hours, allowing the 2/2 Infantry to secure their position and permit Companies A and C to move south behind a creeping barrage and eventually overrun the Viet Cong bunkers. By 2:30 PM, the Viet Cong were abandoning their positions and fleeing the battlefield, leaving behind their dead and weapons and equipment. LTC Shuffer decided not to pursue the retreating Viet Cong, fearing further ambush, and withdrew into a night perimeter. After spending the night defending the landing zone and evacuating their wounded by helicopter, the men of 2nd Battalion resumed their search of the battle area to recover their dead comrades and prevent the Viet Cong from salvaging equipment from the battlefield. Their actions resulted in 300 dead Viet Cong, the wounding of an estimated 200, the capture of many enemy weapons, and the destruction of their base camp and training facility. The 272nd Regiment disappeared for the next four months, presumably to recover its losses. U.S. losses in the battle numbered 43 killed. The lost American troopers included PFC Douglas V. Andre, PFC Steven H. Boyer, PFC David L. Brodeur, SP4 Frederick C. Cadille, PFC Morris F. Dibble, SGT George J. Eisenberger, PFC Richard M. Facondini, PFC Henry Gentry Jr., SGT Robert Goines, SP4 James Graham, SP4 John P. Greene, PFC Michael A. Gruber, PFC Jorge M. Jaramillo, PFC Norman W. Johnson, PFC Grandville R. Jones Jr., SP4 Leonard A. Jones, PVT George E. Joyce, SP5 Raymond E. Kellems, SP4 Richard Killens, SP4 Patrick W. King, SSGT Czeslaw Kowalczyk, SP4 O’neal Legette, SP4 McGeary Littlejohn, SSGT James E. Lofgren, PSGT Luis B. Lopez, SP4 Charles E. Manzanares, 1LT Edward K. Marsh, PSGT Donald W. McCammon, SGT Philip J. McCarthy, PFC Warren S. Oshiro, SGT Leonidas Raisis, PFC Joseph D. Riggle, SP4 Julius Roberts Jr., PFC Carlos H. Ruiz, PFC Michael P. Schwebel, PVT Milton Solomon, SGT Roger W. Spradlin, PFC Don G. Stallard, SSGT John L. Thibeault, SSGT Harry S. Thompson, PFC David J. Tungate, SSGT Edward C. Upner, and SFC Willie S. Right. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, wikipedia.org, and 2/2nd Infantry’s Valorous Unit Award citation]