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 sun 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.

As long as you are remembered you will never truly die....

During Operation Junction City I, airborne troops of 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment of the 173d Airborne Brigade sought the Viet Cong’s (VC) elusive “headquarters” of the Communist uprising in South Vietnam. Searching in thick bamboo forest and jungle adjacent to the Cambodian border in western Tay Ninh Province, the highly mobile VC were not easy to find, and encounters with them could be sudden and deadly. Early on the morning of March 3, 1967, Third Platoon, C Company, 2-503rd set out on an all-day search and destroy mission from their company’s night defensive position (NDP). While revisiting an area where contact with the enemy was made the day before, the platoon was ambushed after they observed and began pursuing a solitary VC fleeing down a trail. Thinking they had an easy “kill,” the VC led them into a well-planned kill zone. An estimated Viet Cong company opened up with small arms, automatic weapons, and Claymore mines. The point element suffered heavy casualties and was pinned down when calls came in to the NDP for help. A reaction force from Second Platoon began racing to their location. Radio contact was lost with the patrol during the half-hour it took before they found the first American, lying dead on a trail with his arms outstretched. Next to him lay a jammed M16 rifle. Further down they found a small clearing where five survivors huddled together. In front of them were fifteen dead, many hit multiple times. Several of them died trying to pull back their wounded comrades. While policing up the battle area, of the fifteen, nine had jammed M16’s. The dead and two wounded were carried in ponchos slung to bamboo stalks to a hastily cut landing zone. The lost personnel included PVT Lawrence Strack, PFC Charles B. Alandt, PFC Charles H. Bennett, 1LT Welborn A. Callahan Jr., PFC Paul W. Curran, PFC Michael J. Drake, PFC Michael L. Ebald, SSG Melvin C. Gaines, PFC Earl S. Garrison, SP4 Moses Green, SSG Angel P. Saez-Ramirez, PFC James A. Skiles, SGT John R. Stalter, PFC Selvester J. Vasques, and PFC Herbert Wilson Jr. Two enemy dead were found. Green, a medic, was posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal for valor during the battle; Stalter received the Bronze Star. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and SGT Stalter’s Bronze Star medal citation; also, the book “Blood on the Risers” by John Leppelman]

PFC Alandt, I remember hearing about you at a very young age. I know Uncle Jeff and Aunt Carroll (divorced) spoke dearly of you. Not until I joined the military and matured did I begin to learn and appreciate what your sacrifice meant. In my 15 years of service I can not say I contributed more to this country than you did in your short time served. Thank you for stepping up to ensure I and the rest of America can continue to live in The Land of the FREE and home of the BRAVE! (We have something in common..we both were Airborne soldiers)
RIP
JuDee Lynn Janowitz

Private First Class Charles Byron Alandt, Served with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, United States Army Vietnam.

Peace, respect, and remembrance of you always. Cammie