THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from Mark Landry is touching. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us...

In early June 1970, during the Cambodian Incursion, Army Engineer land-clearing companies entered the Fishhook area where they worked with the 11th Armored Cavalry to find and destroy enemy fortifications, hiding places, and supplies and equipment. Rome plows cleared over 1,700 acres of jungle and destroyed over 1,100 enemy positions. The North Vietnamese Army resisted the land clearers in the Fishhook region and some units encountered enemy attacks. On June 16th, the enemy made some seventy individual attacks against the cutting force. Three operators suffered wounds and two plows received light damage. One Rome plow struck a mine, wounding the operator and damaging the plow. At 9:34 PM on the 19th, the NVA attacked a forward operating base established by 984th Land Clearing Company near Choam Kravien, fifteen miles southwest of Loc Ninh Airfield. The engineer’s position received heavy mortar, rocket-propelled grenade, and small arms fire. The assault ended after forty-five minutes, killing three 984th LCC personnel and wounding eighteen. Nine others were injured, including two Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) soldiers. The lost engineers included SP5 Francis A. Bond, PFC Charles E. Thornton, and PFC Barry K. Weaver. Thornton received a posthumous promotion to Corporal. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Engineers at War” by Adrian G. Traas]

DEAR SPEC 5 FRANCIS BOND,
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A HEAVY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OPERATOR. IT HAS BEEN FAR TOO LONG FOR ALL OF YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND YOUR SACRIFICE. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE. YOU ARE ALL IN OUR PRAYERS. IT WAS JUST EASTER - GOD'S BLESSINGS ON YOU.

You were my brother Neil's best friend, we talk of you still.

Dear SP5 Francis Arthur Bond, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for the ultimate sacrifice that you made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. And please know that men and women like you have stepped forward to defend our country yet again, showing the same love for country and their fellow Americans that you did- you would be proud.

With respect, and the best salute that a civilian can muster for you.

Curt Carter (son of Sgt Ardon William Carter, 101st Airborne, February 4, 1966, South Vietnam)