THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever….

Dear SSgt Charles Strader, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Memorial Day is soon, and we honor you. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

Lai Khe Base Camp was a Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and U.S. Army base, located along Highway 13 (“Thunder Road”) to the northwest of Saigon. It was the Headquarters for the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division. Late in the afternoon of February 4, 1966, near sunset, a platoon-sized patrol consisting of 32 men departed the camp on foot to conduct a night ambush mission in the area to west of the base. Most of the personnel were from 3rd Platoon, A Company, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry of the 1st Infantry Division. After clearing the perimeter, the point element crossed the Saigon River. As the command group, including some officers and the Forward Observer and radiomen, were preparing to cross, two U.S.-made M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel mines were detonated in a sandbar. The blasts killed ten Americans and wounded another nine. The explosions could be heard within the base, and when Battalion couldn’t establish radio contact with the patrol, a reactionary force raced over to their location. Helicopters were launched, and medivacs soon landed to remove the dead and wounded. It would take over four hours to completely police-up the ambush site as members of A Company worked in the dark to remove weapons and equipment. The lost personnel included PFC Antonio Barbosa-Villafane, PFC William A. Bason II, PFC Samuel L. Dellos, SGT Arnold E. Ison, SP4 Stephen E. Laier, SSG Paul R. Setzer, SSG Frank R. Stamper, SSG Charles E. Strader, SP4 John H. Thompson, and SP4 Stanley J. Thompson. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Jose Rafael Sierra September 2019)]