THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. While all deaths in Vietnam are tragic that you died on your 25th birthday is especially so. May you rest in eternal peace.

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

Staff Sergeant Charles Douglas Sawyers, Served with Company B, 299th Engineer Battalion, 937th Engineer Group, 18th Engineer Brigade, United States Army Vietnam Engineer Command, United States Army Vietnam. Montani Semper Liberi !

Dear SSgt Charles Sawyers, Thank you for your service as a Combat Engineer. I researched you on your 79th birthday, which was also your 54th anniversary, and that is so sad. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is the 2nd week of Advent. 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 November 11, 1967, a repair crew from A Platoon, Company B, 299th Engineer Battalion was enroute to continue work refurbishing a damaged timber trestle bridge along Highway QL-14 north of Kontum, RVN, when it was ambushed by some fifty to eighty Viet Cong. The enemy attacked with grenades, rockets, automatic weapons, and mortars. SFC John K. McDermott was in the lead vehicle when a recoilless rifle round exploded against his truck. McDermott managed to keep control of the vehicle and drove it off the road to allow the rest of the convoy to get by. He then jumped from the truck and directed his men to safety. He killed two Viet Cong attackers before two more leaped at him bringing him to the ground. After struggling free, McDermott wounded two of the attackers and proceeded under heavy fire to drive several trucks out of the ambush site. Despite intensive enemy rifle fire and exploding grenades, he rallied his men in a counterattack. Meanwhile, SSG Frank J. Walker, a squad leader who was riding behind McDermott when the ambush occurred, leapt from his truck, which was also hit, and charged into enemy machine gun fire, knocking out several Viet Cong positions. These heroic actions allowed the convoy to move out of danger. Within a half hour, reinforcements from 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry arrived and drove off the enemy. Six engineers died in the battle and four were wounded. The lost personnel included PFC Billie W. Bright, PFC James A. Collier, SP4 Robert E. Haynes, SP4 Raymond R. Hollopeter, SSG Charles D. Sawyers, and SP4 John J. Tiscornia. Thirteen Viet Cong were confirmed dead. Extensive damage was made to one 5-ton dump truck, one 3/4-ton truck, and one jeep. General Westmoreland later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for valor to both McDermott and Walker in a ceremony at Pleiku. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Engineers at War” by Adrian G. Traas]