THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us...

The war may be forgotten but the warrior will always be remembered. All gave Some-Some gave All. Rest in peace Sky Soldier.

I was in basic training with Harold in El Paso, TX in Company Bravo3-3. I just wanted thank you for you service and sacrifice to your country. I often wondered where Harold had gotten off to and then I found this on the wall. It saddens me to hear of his death in Vietnam.

Operation Washington Green was a joint operation of 173d Airborne Brigade and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) pacification campaign conducted in the An Lao Valley of Binh Dinh Province, RVN. On April 19, 1969, Sky Soldiers from D Company, 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, with their Vietnamese counterparts were moving into a night Command Post position a mile southeast of Tam Quan city when a land mine consisting of one, possibly two, booby-trapped 105mm artillery rounds were detonated. Five U.S. troopers were killed in the blast. Another three Vietnamese National Policemen and a ARVN interpreter accompanying the Americans were also killed. An additional eight Sky Soldiers were wounded. A Dustoff (medical evacuation by helicopter) was requested at 7:52 PM and arrived on scene at 8:14 PM, and the wounded were flown to Qui Nhon. The five lost Sky Soldiers were SP4 Harold G. Bottoms, PVT Robert R. Bradley, SSG Larry H. Cooke, PFC Richard L. Hannon, and SP4 Joe G. Longoria. Bottoms and Longoria were posthumously promoted to Sergeant, and Hannon was posthumously promoted to Corporal. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

On behalf of all the paratroopers who served with you in the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) and all who followed, we offer our respect and remembrance of your ultimate sacrifice. May you never be forgotten and your family and friends take comfort in your valor in serving.