THE WALL OF FACES

Dear PFC Ralph Rotter, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. The 54th anniversary of the start of your tour was yesterday. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Another Halloween is soon Time moves quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

On the night of January 1-2, 1968, the 2-22 Infantry (Mechanized), 3-22 Infantry, and the 2-77 Artillery for 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry, were involved in a massive human wave attack by four battalions of North Vietnam Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) at Fire Support Base Burt in Tay Ninh Province, RVN. After skirmishes the previous day suggested a significant enemy build up near the base, enemy 60mm mortars began falling inside of the base perimeter at 11:30 PM on January 1st. Approximately 200 rounds total would fall on the base. The main force of the attack began at one minute after midnight, beginning on the northern portion of the perimeter. Almost simultaneously, a heavy attack of rocket-propelled grenades (RPG’s), machine guns, and small arms opened up on the southern portion of the base. Within minutes, the eastern perimeter was also attacked by a large force with RPG’s, machine guns, small arms, and grenades, as they attempted to penetrate the company perimeter. The VC continued to cover their attack with 60mm mortar fire. All US personnel not occupying listening posts or ambushes defended from sandbagged bunkers. Between 1:00 AM to 2:30 AM, 105mm “beehive” anti-personnel rounds were requested and fired along Company C perimeter to blunt the frontal assault occurring there. Fierce close-in fighting continued until approximately 5:00 AM, when the VC began to withdraw, leaving behind their dead and wounded. By 6:30, the fighting had nearly stopped, with only occasional sniper and some automatic weapons fire. The Americans were victorious in repulsing the attack. Over 400 NVA and VC were killed with U.S. losses at 23 killed and 153 wounded. The lost Americans included PFC Ronnie E. Ballard, 2LT John W. Beckett, SP4 Thomas G. Bernardy, SGT Robert E. Bowman, PFC Houston C. Box Jr., SP4 Robert L. Campbell, SGT Kenneth B. Carpenter, SP4 Ennis E. Crow, SSG Fred C. DuBose III, SP4 Eldon Garamillo, SGT James J. Lind, SP4 James W. McCaffrey, PFC Jack W. Miller, PFC Willie Petty Jr., PFC Samuel Rivera-Fernandez, PFC Ralph L. Rotter, SGT Anderson L. Ruderson, SP4 David R. Smith, PFC Odell Stokes Jr., CPL Abel C. Stroud III, PFC Victor D. Tomczyk, CPL Alton L. Watkins Jr., and CPL Bobby J. Winkler. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vietnamtripledeuce.org]

Remembrance Of Ralph Rotter
As I set here looking at the ‘Memorial of Ralph Rotter’ I look back at a part of His life, Many Non-Family members may not know about ‘Him-The Person.
I first met Ralph in the late1950’s, when He live on McKenzie View out side of Coburg, Oregon. He was a fellow student and athletic at Coburg High school. He lived on a farm in the midest of the ‘Bowerman Family’ (NIKE) and The ‘Jaqua Family’ with properties over looking the ‘Great McKenzie River’ just south of Coburg. (Later they moved to a Dairy farm on Coburg Rd. a part of Eugene School Dist.)
Our community was a small Town in the South End of the Willamette Valley. Population at that time (50’s &60’s) for Coburg was only about 650 people. The surrounding area was Farm, many growing Vegetables for the local Cannery.
Ralph was Part of our Track Team and Football Team. He was a great Runner in Track and a very ‘tuff’ player on our Football Team. A very hard worker and put working on the Family Dairy ‘First’ before Sports or Fun Time.
In the Early 60’s McKenzie View Dr. became part of the Eugene School Dist. and he transferred to North Eugene High School where he excelled in sports there also. It was a tuff lost for our little school when he moved.
In 1968 our paths cross again while I was in the Army. I was a Sgt. on a ‘Air-Vac Team’ working with the Air-force transporting ‘Battlefield Wounded Troops’ to TAMC Hawaii and the ‘Fallen Dead Troops’ back to the Main Land. On a early January day in 1968 A Hero From Oregon passed through our Post on his way Home, Yes My Friend, Class Mate and Fellow Army Soldure - PFC Ralph Lee Rotter heading Home to Eugene, Oregon.:::Wall-of-Faces/44620/RALPH-LEE-ROTTER is honored on Panel 33E, Row 22 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in ... Ralph is buried at West Lawn Memorial Park in Eugene, OR.

Always remembered, forever missed and ever indebted to your soul for your ultimate sacrifice.

Dear PFC Ralph Lee Rotter, 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