THE WALL OF FACES

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Semper Fortis

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. May you rest in eternal peace.

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.

On July 23, 1968, River Assault Division 91 units with 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry soldiers embarked were enroute to beaching areas on the Giong Trom Canal, eight miles southeast of Ben Tre, RVN, when they were ambushed on the Ben Tre Stream about six miles southeast of Ben Tre. The boats immediately turned toward the ambush positions, saturated the area with machine gun and cannon fire, and landed their infantrymen to counterattack the enemy and search the area. During the battle, the boat captain of Assault Support Patrol Boat 91-4, BM1 John F. Bobb, was killed when a rocket hit the coxswain’s flat of his boat. In his last heroic act before he died, BM1 Bobb beached his boat to prevent it from hitting the other boats in the formation. The gradient where the boat was grounded was very steep, and the boat swamped and subsequently sunk. The ASPB was recovered the following day and returned for repairs. The 20mm gunner on the craft, FN David A. Pearson, was also killed when a 75mm recoilless-rifle round severely damaged his gunmount. Ten other sailors were wounded in the battle. A soldier from A Company, 3rd Battalion, PFC James H. Martin, drowned after being caught on the ramp of one of the troop carriers and pulled into the water while the craft was attempting to extract troops off the beach under fire. PFC Martin was posthumously promoted to corporal. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

Petty Officer First Class John Franklin Bobb, Served aboard Assault Support Patrol Boat 91-4 (ASPB 91-4), River Assault Squadron 9, Task Force 117, (TF-117), United States Naval Forces Vietnam (USNAVFORV).