THE WALL OF FACES

Went to High School with Mike and had PE together under Coach Hopkin. I remember him as a happy, easy-going kind of guy who loves to laugh and have fun during PE. We still remember you at our High School Reunions.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your sister Donna is especially poignant. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

On April 2, 1970, D Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division was set up in a night defensive position five miles southeast of Minh Long Air Field in Quang Ngai Province, RVN. D Company was assembled near a second company in preparation for an airlift the following morning to another location. A Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) team of five men entered the perimeter and talked with some of the D Company personnel for a short time. When they left the perimeter, they headed toward the other company a short distance away. Not far outside the perimeter, the lieutenant of the LRRP’s was observed to lean over and say something to the effect, “What’s this?” At the same instant, an enormous explosion occurred where the enemy had placed either a small bomb or large artillery shell. The blast sent a lethal matrix of fragments in the direction of D Company. The effect was devastating. Eight D/4-3 personnel were killed and nineteen were wounded. Also killed was an interrogator from the 635th Military Intelligence Company, there with his Vietnamese interpreter to interrogate some Viet Cong captives. The lost D Company personnel including SGT Michael E. Borges, CPL Donald E. Chambers, CPL Spencer A. Goethe, CPL Larry Graves, 1LT Robert P. Kettering, PFC Ted R. Miller (died of wounds 04/29/1970), CPL Dennis N. Pipkin, and PFC Dennis L. Young; the interrogator was SP5 Richard Elliott. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Report, Americal Division - Operational Report, Lessons Learned for Period Ending 10 April 1970” at ttu.edu; also, information provided by Terrell Murphy (May 2020); and Bob McCabe (December 2001), Thomas Hill (April 2002), and Dan E. Thorlton (September 2002) at thewall-usa.com]

Michael and I went through basic training and AIT at Fort Lewis Washington together and were best buds. Michael went to NCO school as was I supposed to but instead I went straight to Vietnam. I have missed you every day Mikey and expect to be back with you again soon. You are loved.

DEAR SERGEANT BORGES,
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE AS AN INFANTRYMAN. SUNDAY WAS THE 42ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE FALL OF SAIGON. I AM SO SORRY. 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.