THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Sp4 Ronald Sheehy, Thank you for your service as an Indirect Fire Infantryman with the 1st Cavalry. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is another new year. Time moves quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

In the early 1960's, Ronald Sheehy and I were members of the Explorer Drum and Bugle Corps sponsored by Oxford VFW Post. I was in the color guard and he was my captain. He was about 3 years older than me. I distinctly remember going to his funeral in Derby, CT, after his remains were returned to the US. It was a very sad day for all of us who attended. I distinctly remember his smile. Both of my brothers served in Vietnam, but I never was in the service. Since then, I have spent 42 years as an adult volunteer in service to the Boy Scouts of America. Several of my scouts have gone to USMA or Annapolis, and many have served in the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. My service pales into nothingness compared to the sacrifice of Ron. I hope I will always remember him, and think of him, as my captain.

In the early morning hours of December 27, 1966, three North Vietnamese Army battalions of the 22nd Regiment used a two-day Christmas truce to move into position for a surprise attack on LZ Bird, an U.S. Army artillery base adjacent to the Kim Son River in Binh Dinh Province, RVN. LZ Bird was defended by only part of C Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, which was providing security for 1st Cavalry howitzers of B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 19th Artillery (105mm guns) and C Battery, 6th Battalion, 16th Artillery (155mm guns). The combined American strength at LZ Bird was 170 personnel. The NVA attack, estimated at 1000-man strong, began supported by mortar, recoilless-rifle, and machine gun fire. They broke through the perimeter and occupied some of the American gun positions. The 1st Cavalry soldiers fought back, with some of the fighting dissolving into hand-to-hand warfare. A number of the 105mm guns were cranked down to pointblank range, and "beehive" rounds sliced through the attackers like scythes, effectively stopping the assault in it tracks. This and armed CH-47 Chinook helicopter gunship support stalled the NVA momentum, and they began to withdraw. One account of enemy dead was assessed at a total of 211 NVA killed (body count) in and around the LZ. The American losses were 28 killed and 67 wounded. The lost Americans at LZ Bird included from C Company: SP4 Freddie L. Burnette, PFC Alfred L. Davis, PFC Hubert A. Erwin, SP4 Gregory J. Fischer, PFC Howard S. Goldberg, PFC Armand R. Graham, PFC Randall L. Hixson, SFC Paul G. Jackson, SP4 James E. Nunley, SP4 Gary W. Peasley, PFC Jerry E. Schmeltz, SP4 Ronald J. Sheehy, SGT Hugh G. Skipper, 1LT Jerald D. Wallace, and SP4 Larry J. Willis; from B Battery: PFC Samuel Q. Asher, PFC Anthony C. Coffaro, CPL Ronald R. Conn, PFC Richard A. Knaus, PFC Donald H. Lederhaus, SGT Daniel L. Miracle, and SSG Rodney D. Staton; from C Battery: PFC Ronnie E. Norris, PFC Roger D. White, CPL Roscoe Wright Jr., and PFC Ronald J. Zitiello; and 11th Aviation Group helicopter crewmen SP4 Robert J. Hardesty and CPL Robert D. Lajko. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, 12thcav.us, pownetwork.org, and wikipedia.org]

Dear SP4 Ronald J Sheehy, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice 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. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

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

Curt Carter

Ronald is buried at Mt St Peters Cemetery, Derby,CT. PH