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….

Just after midnight on April 13, 1968, E Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, was in an overnight position on a plateau east of LZ Center in Quang Tin Province, RVN, when they were attacked by a large enemy force. E Company, a reconnaissance unit with an attached platoon (2nd Platoon) from A/3/21, pulled in its forward observation posts after taking three rounds of mortar fire. Ten minutes later, heavy fire from the south raked the formation as small arms fire and hand grenades hit the U.S. position. Shortly after, a ground attack was launched by the enemy. The Americans fought back with unit weapons and called in gun and flare ship support. The attack aircraft came on station at 12:50 AM, including a U.S. Air Force AC-47 “Spooky” gunship; the enemy, meanwhile, brought up heavy machine guns and sprayed the aircraft with automatic weapons fire from four locations. After nearly an hour and a half of fighting, the enemy broke contact. At 1:30 AM, E/3/21 radioed that enemy fire had diminished, and no shots had been fired for thirty minutes. A Company, 3/21, acting as a reaction force, cut a trail through dense jungle to the besieged company’s location. Upon arrival, they found E Company in disarray. The battle was over, but they discovered the men had failed to dig in, and when attacked, were dispersed in a disordered manner to find cover. It was difficult in the darkness for the reaction force to find and treat the wounded, collect the dead, and organize medivacs. By daylight, all were accounted for except one, radioman SP4 Warren J. Robinson. His remains were located in a burnt out hootch on the plateau and were placed in a poncho and evacuated. The enemy force, later estimated at two Viet Cong companies, killed thirteen Americans and wounded twenty-eight. Another two sustained minor injuries. The lost personnel included (from E/3/21) SP4 John M. Bell, PFC James L. Parker Jr., SGT Paul E. Poirier, SP4 Alfred L. Powell, SGT Grady Thacker, SP4 Juan P. Valdez, and PFC George E. Winfield; and (from 2nd Platoon, A/3/21) PVT Roland L. Ballew, PFC Agapito Gonzales Jr., 1LT Randolph M. Harrison, PFC Douglas R. Heath, SSG Ernest E. Lesure, and SP4 Warren J. Robinson. Six Viet Cong were reported killed. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, “April 1968 Americal Division TOC Journal” at americalfoundation.org and information provided by William Karp (July 2022)]

Dear Sgt Grady Thacker, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Independence Day just passed. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

You were one of the brave that answered the call. You honored us by your service and sacrifice. We now honor you each time we stand and sing the words “THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE”. Rest in Peace and Honor Grady.

Dear SGT Grady Thacker, 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, Sir

Curt Carter