THE WALL OF FACES

Richard Hulet
[email protected]
Fellow Marine
It has been 40, years. Lance Corporal, Richard Blasen served, with the best. Foxtrot, Company, 2nd, Battalion, 5th, Marines, 1st, Marine Division, left for Operation, Union II, on May 26th, 1967, attached, to Lt., Colonel, Hilgartner’s, 1st, Battalion, 5th, Marines. When the first wave of helicopters came back, for the rest of the company, the helicopter crews unloaded what looked like body bags, but, inconceivably, it was flack jackets, as Lt., Col., Hilgartner, thought it was too hot, to wear them. By June 3rd, after a week in the bush, south, of their An Hoa, base camp, in the Que Son Valley, Foxtrot’s objective, was the village of Vinh Huy 2. The company advanced parallel, to Delta, 1/5, 800, meters southeast, moving towards a saddle, leading, to a field 450, meters wide, by 350, meters deep. Delta, Company was engaged, with at least a company, of NVA.. Captain, Graham radioed, the colonel, for air and arty., prep, but was denied and ordered, to move out. The first and second platoons, entered, the rice paddy and the battle raged, for the next several hours. The men of Foxtrot, fought valiantly engaging, an NVA., regiment. Corporal, Loyd Woods, single handed attempted, to save his mortally wounded platoon leader, attacked and eliminated, two machine gun positions and their crews. Corporal, Melvin Long despite, being wounded twice, led his squad in an attack on the hills, killing all, of the enemy and relieving the crossfire on the Marines trapped, in the open rice paddy. Gunny Green, on his first operation with Foxtrot, also killed the crew, of two machine gun positions. All three were awarded, the Navy Cross. At 1745, Captain, Graham, after being wounded twice, chose to stay with the badly wounded, battalion, radio operator. His last radio contact, was to 3rd, platoon commander, indicating that he was out, of ammunition and that “25, NVA., are firing and maneuvering against me and they are looking pretty good...” He received, the Congressional Medal, of Honor. Foxtrot, Company, lost 30, men, killed and another 61, wounded, on June 3, 1967. Only a month later, after rebuilding, Fox was sent to Nong Son and attacked, losing 10, more men. A short timer, machine gunner Private, Melvin Newlin received, the Medal of Honor, for his actions on the night, of 3/4 July. Richard Blasen, may you, rest in peace. I will never forget. Sgt., Richard Hulet, Logistics, Support Unit, 2/5, An Hoa, 1967.
SEMPRI FI MARINE

I remember you from the Carol Stream swimming pool. I was a lifeguard and you would visit the pool with your siblings. I remember watching you interact with them and it was so apparent how much you loved them. We went on a date, but I knew immediately that you were "out of my class". You were much too good for me the wild and reckless one. Married with small children, one day, something prompted me to read the newspaper obituaries - something I never did. There it was, the notice of your death. There were(and are) no words to describe my sadness. I went to your memorial service and I still talk about you, first, when speaking of the Vietnam War......

Dear LCPL Richard Lee Blasen, 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

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