THE WALL OF FACES

War drew us from our homeland
In the sunlit springtime of our youth.
Those who did not come back alive remain
in perpetual springtime -- forever young --
And a part of them is with us always.

I did not know you but I lived in your home town of Royal Oak, MI. I can only thank you for your service. You are a true American hero. Thank you for your service.

Dear Sp4 Thomas Roach, Thank you for your service as a Field Artillery Basic with the 1st Cavalry. The 53rd anniversary of the start of your tour is soon. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Today is the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

LZ Grant was an isolated outpost of the U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division, acting as a tactical control point and logistical supply area for the maneuver elements of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry. Located one kilometer from the Cambodian border in Tay Ninh Province, RVN, it was near a trail down which the North Vietnamese Army funneled supplies and personnel to fight in South Vietnam. At half past midnight on March 8, 1969, the North Vietnamese Army struck LZ Grant, announcing the battle when a 122mm rocket with a delay fuse arched across the sky and slammed into the sandbagged command bunker. The big projectile sliced through three layers of sandbags and detonated inside. The battalion operations officer was outside the bunker checking on the readiness of the base defense when the rocket hit. He raced back and found it demolished. When he looked through the smoke and dust, he could see LTC Peter L. Gorvad dead in his chair at the map board. On the east side of the LZ beyond the second or third row of wire, five Americans from D Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, comprised a listening post. Situated in a large depression in the ground, 10 to 12 feet in diameter, they held their position when the onslaught began. Just before daylight, they decided to try to make it back to the LZ. They got half way back when they ran into NVA. Outnumbered, PFC Charles D. Snyder and PFC Larry E. Evans were hit with very heavy fire and killed. The other three made a mad dash to the LZ, running in a crouched position and made it. At the entrance of the LZ, enemy Bangalore torpedoes blew a hole in the gate as B-40 rockets screamed in from hidden spots, and mortar fire rained down on the landing zone. The NVA launched a human wave assault, sending masses soldiers through the ruptured gate. Another D Company member, 1LT Grant H. Henjyoji, leaped out of his bunker with a M16 rifle to confront the enemy. He was killed almost instantly. The rifle company that defended the camp fought so well that most of the Claymore mines ringing the camp were not needed and were not fired. Air strikes and Spooky gunships peppered the NVA as they charged, and the camp's defenders lowered their artillery pieces and fired point-blank into the on-rushing enemy. At least six enemy made it through two rings of concertina barbwire to die less than 30 feet from the guns of the Cavalry troopers. None made it through the final defense. At 6:15 AM, the enemy withdrew, leaving behind 157 dead and two prisoners of war. U.S. losses were 14 killed in action and 31 others wounded. The lost Americans included Gorvad, Snyder, Evans, and Henjyoji; also CPT John P. Emrath, 1LT Peter L. Tripp, CPT William R. Black, SGT Walter B. Hoxworth, CPL Vincent F. Guerrero, SP4 John R. Hornsby, SP4 Thomas J. Roach Jr., PFC Glenn R. Stair, Akron, PFC Roy D. Wimmer, and SP4 Gordon C. Murray. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, virtualwall.org, and “GIs Hurl Back Charge by N. Viet Battalion.” Pacific Stars & Stripes, March 10, 1969; “Gentle Warrior.” The Oregonian, May 28, 2000; and information provided by Bob Jones at 12thcav.us]

Dear SP4 Thomas Joseph Roach Jr, 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.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter