THE WALL OF FACES

The 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry, 9th Infantry Division was a U.S. Army tank reconnaissance company based at Bearcat Base near Bien Hoa, RVN. In February 1968, 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry was deployed to the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Vietnam where U.S. commanders believed the North Vietnamese Army was preparing to launch an all-out invasion of I Corps. Beginning April 15, 1968, the squadron was attached to Provisional Corps Vietnam, Army units in Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces under the operational control of the III Marine Amphibious Force. On the night of April 29-30, 1968, C Troop, 3rd Sqdn, 5th Cav was bivouacked in a night defensive position (NDP) approximately four miles southeast of Quang Tri Airfield. At 3:40 AM, C Troop reported they were under heavy mortar attack. Eight minutes later, their Command Post area came under ground attack by approximately two hundred Viet Cong. The enemy overran the American position, assaulting it with heavy small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire. In addition, some 200 rounds of 82mm mortar fire rained down on the NDP. Gunships, flare ships, evacuation helicopters, and all available artillery were used in support of C/3-5. At 5:10 AM, the incoming fire ceased, and ten minutes later the enemy ground forces retreated. Fifteen Americans were killed in the attack; initial accounts reported another thirty to forty were wounded requiring some fifteen evacuation flights. The lost personnel included (3rd Sqdn, 5th Cav) SP5 Charles L. Frisby, PFC Eddie A. Gardner, PFC Marcello C. Garza Jr., PFC John A. Glorioso, SP4 Marcos Hinojosa (died of wounds 06/18/1968), SP4 Paul L. Miller, PFC Roger W. Morgan, SP4 Earl J. Netzow (died of wounds 05/13/1968), PFC Rollie M. Northouse, SP4 Johnnie G. Reid, 1LT William L. Rushing (died of wounds 05/06/1968), SP4 Michael E. Santos, PFC Alexander Tsiros, and SP4 Alfred M. Wolfe; and (C-2/5th Cav) PFC Nicholas L. Hollingsworth. One tank and three armored personnel carriers were destroyed. In the wake of the losses, several promotions occurred posthumously: Frisby was promoted to Staff Sergeant; Gardner, Garza, Glorioso, Morgan, Northouse, and Tsiros to Corporal; and Miller, Reid, and Santos to Sergeant. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, vvmf.org, and “3rd Marine Division Journal for April 1968” at ttu.edu]

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotions and spends himself in a great worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end triumph of high achievement and, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while caring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold, timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. Theodore Roosevelt

Dear Lt William Rushing, Thank you for your service as an Armor Reconnaissance Specialist. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Happy Halloween. Time moves quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Bill....Honoring you on your birthday....God Bless

that should have read you in the left back seat & & David Wire in the right back seat.