THE WALL OF FACES

PVT James M. Risch was a mortarman serving with Echo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry, 198th Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division (Americal), U.S. Army Republic of Vietnam. In the early spring of 1971, Echo Company was assigned to LZ Chippewa, an Americal fire support base approximately 11 kilometers southwest of Chu Lai in Quang Ngai Province, RVN. Chippewa was generally manned by about 20 men comprising a team of “Lurps” (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol), Risch’s mortar section of 4.2” and 81mm tubes, and a crew operating an Integrated Observation System consisting of high-powered ships’ binoculars combined with an infrared night observation device and laser range finder. Risch and the other mortarmen spent 30-40 days on the hill before receiving three days of standdown at a divisional rear area. On March 26, 1971, he and some buddies were off duty and relaxing in the waters of the South China Sea at the 198th Infantry Brigade Refit Beach near Chu Lai. After swimming a while in the surf, his friends noticed Risch was missing. Looking around, they spotted him floating face down in the water about 200 yards out. A couple of the better swimmers went out and pulled him back to shore. An NCO with the group, a sergeant with several tours of experience, tried to revive Risch with chest compressions and rescue breaths. He was unsuccessful. A medivac helicopter landed on the beach and carried him the short distance to the 23rd Evacuation Hospital at Chu Lai where medical staff declared him dead on arrival. Risch was 21 years old. Trying to make sense of the loss, his buddies determined that he had moved into an area where a strong undertow menaced swimmers. They had been warned to stay clear of this section of the beach, but for reasons unknown, Risch entered the area and was pulled under and drowned. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Gordon L. Hilton (December 2023)]

PVT James M. Risch (arrow). This is the last known photo of Risch the day before or day of his drowning on March 26, 1971, during a standdown at the 198th Infantry Brigade Refit Beach near Chu Lai in Quang Ngai Province, RVN. The enlisted man in white trunks is the NCO who valiantly tried to resuscitate Risch. [Image courtesy of Gordon L. Hilton]

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

Dear Pvt James Risch, Thank you for your service as an Indirect Fire Infantryman. The 51st anniversary of the start of your tour was 3 days ago. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is Labor Day weekend. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

We had a couple days to spend in the rear area-get a hot meal, take in the floor shows and swim in the south china sea. We were all swimming ,enjoying the warm water. Someone said "where"s Jim? We found him in the sea and brought him into the beach.Sgt,"Big O" tried to revive him. The medi-vac came and took him away. Still have a picture of Jim sitting on the beach having a great time.