THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As I am from Delaware County, PA your sacrifice has special meaning to me. Rest in eternal peace.

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.

At 0945 hours on June 13, 1969, heavy casualties were sustained by Mobile Riverine Forces during an enemy-initiated firefight (ENIFF) which occurred on the Ben Tre River, four miles southeast of Ben Tre in Kien Hoa Province, RVN. Nine river assault craft (RAC) with Bravo Company of the 3/47th Infantry Battalion were enroute to a beaching site when they came under heavy B-40 rocket attack. Zippo flame-throwing boat Z-152-1 received four rocket hits, ATC 152-6 received two rocket hits, and ATC 152-11 received one. Fire was returned and momentarily suppressed. The RAC were forced to reverse course in order to facilitate evacuation of casualties; as they turned around they again came under attack from the same location. The RAC proceeded toward a fire support base (FSB) while 26 of the wounded were medevacked by an Army dustoff helicopter and the Navy Command and Control helicopter. Total friendly casualties were five soldiers killed, and 21 soldiers and four Navymen wounded. The lost soldiers included SP4 Thomas M. Aaron Jr., PFC Kenneth L. Conner, SSGT Michael K. Lewis, SP4 James C. Lucero, and SP4 Arturo Salazar. At the FSB, a company of the 3/47th replaced the decimated troops and returned to the ambush site. A company of the 3/60th was also airmobiled into the ambush area to conduct search and destroy operations which yielded no contact. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

The war may be forgotten but the warrior will always be remembered !!!! All gave Some-Some gave All. Rest in peace Thomas. :-(

You were so loved and very missed.