THE WALL OF FACES

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Firebase Nong Son was a U.S. Marine Corps fire support base southwest of Da Nang in Quang Nam Province, RVN. Early in July 1967, a platoon from F Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines was dug in at the base, a second platoon occupied the middle level, and the third platoon with recoilless rifles and mortars occupied the 656-foot-high summit. On the night of July 3rd-4th, an estimated 400 North Vietnamese Army (NVA) assaulted the hilltop. The surprise attack was achieved when the enemy, over several days, employed discarded U.S. ammo boxes to create wooden stairsteps up an unscalable side of the hill. Ironically, on July 3rd, their plans were nearly exposed when Marines were to burn off overgrown brush on that side of the hill but were unable to get their flamethrowers to operate. Moreover, the Marines missed an important clue that something was afoot when Nong Son villagers failed to appear for their daily visit to the hilltop to hawk their wares. As the sun set, NVA sappers were in place near the peak. At 11:27 PM, a listening post radioed, “I have movement to my front…they’re all around me…we’ve been overrun!” The enemy attacked with small arms and mortar fire, throwing satchel charges into occupied bunkers and an ammo dump, setting aflame ordinance on the hilltop. Nevertheless, the Marines on top fought back tenaciously. Down below, their comrades were unable to assist, and called their sister E Company, a mile away, to relieve them so they could go up and help. After arriving, the remaining elements of F Company moved to the top of the hill, quickly establishing advantageous machine gun positions, and pushed the enemy off at 1:17 AM. Recapturing the hilltop cost thirteen Marines lives plus three members of a U.S. Army searchlight team embedded with them. Over forty others were wounded. The lost Americans included: (F/2/5) SGT Tony Ahinzow, LCPL James E. Ball III, LCPL Joseph L. Hicks, LCPL Arthur Lanteigne, PVT Andrew Currie, and PFC Melvin E. Newlin (posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor); (H&S, 2/5) LCPL Walter D. Buschleiter, LCPL Raymond L. Hyson, CPL Danny P. Riesberg and PFC Ronald D. Reyes; (107 Mortar Btry, 3rd Bn, 11th Marines) CPL James H. Cooney, LCPL Anthony M. Schmutz, and PFC Richard L. McKinnell; and (G Btry, 29th Arty) SP4 Andreas McCurry, SP4 Waylen L. Powell, and PFC Arnold R. Palmer. Forty-two NVA were reported killed. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, virtualwall.org, and information provided by Mike Harris (April 2022)]

Dear Lcpl Anthony Schmutz, Thank you for your service as a Field Artillery Cannoneer. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Merry Christmas. Time moves quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Your granddaughter is a student in my class. She remembers warmly her grandmother, your wife, reading your letters. She is a very nice young woman and I have enjoyed getting to know her.

Semper Fi, Marine.