THE WALL OF FACES

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

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

Dear Cpl Ernest Staines, Thank you for your service as a Tactical Wire Operations Specialist. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Happy Spring. Time moves quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

The Combined Reconnaissance and Intelligence Platoon (CRIP) was an intelligence-gathering unit of U.S. infantrymen from the 25th Infantry Division working with Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) troops. These units were assigned to each Brigade Headquarters and operated directly in support of their parent brigades. The teams produced valuable information about enemy activities. On June 29, 1969, a CRIP team from the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry "Wolfhounds," was bivouacked at an ARVN camp known as Checkpoint 28 in Binh Duong Province. Sometime during the night an explosion occurred in the bunker where the Americans were sleeping. Six CRIP member were killed by the blast and a seventh survived with burns after he was pulled from the burning structure. The lost U.S. personnel included SP4 Courtney J. Cosgrove, SGT Charles F. Clendenin, SP5 Donald P. Davies, SP4 Wayne H. Emerson, SP4 Herbert J. Lottes, and CPL Ernest M. Staines. A Cambodian youth who hung around the Americans and was considered their “mascot” was also killed. It was surmised by other CRIP members that the incident was an “inside job,” possibly from a satchel charge. An inquiry was conducted, and a panel of non-combat arms U.S. officers ruled that the blast occurred when lightning caused munitions (Claymore mines) to detonate. This pronouncement was made despite there being no rain reported the night the explosion took place. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Joseph Clock (December 2019)]

CPL Ernest M. Staines’ obituary, taken the Cordele Dispatch (Cordele, GA), date unknown, courtesy of Mari Mills, Library Manager, Cordele-Crisp Carnegie Library, Cordele, GA.