THE WALL OF FACES

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotions and spends himself in a great worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end triumph of high achievement and, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while caring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold, timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. Theodore Roosevelt

Operation MacArthur took place in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam during October 12, 1967 to January 31, 1969. The U.S. 4th Infantry Division had responsible for the defense of the provincial and district capitals along National Route QL-14, a paved road that ran north to south through the middle of the Central Highlands. Opposing the 4th Infantry Division was the North Vietnamese Army’s (NVA) B3 Front, a headquarters that controlled all the main force units in the provinces of Kontum, Pleiku, and Darlac, and the western portions of Binh Dinh and Phu Bon Provinces. In a direct challenge to the NVA, the Americans constructed Fire Support Base 14 eighteen miles west of Kontum City in Kontum Province, RVN. The outpost was established by the 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment to protect the Polei Kleng Special Forces Camp seven miles to the east. The base had no above ground structures and its occupants lived in dugout shelters. The perimeter was bounded by concertina wire, a tenuous obstacle to the determined NVA which occupied the hills surrounding FSB 14. Displeased with this development, at 3:30 AM on March 26, 1968, two battalions of the NVA’s 320th Regiment attacked the base. The enemy assaulted with small arms, automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades, 60mm mortars, and flame throwers. They were able to penetrate the northwestern portion of the perimeter, briefly occupying some bunkers. Two 1st Brigade companies returned fire while another counterattacked at the point of penetration, driving off the NVA and restoring the perimeter at 7:10 AM. Two other companies were airlifted into the contact area to set up blocking positions. Artillery and U.S. Air Force close air support hit NVA positions during the attack. Enemy losses were put at 135 dead against nineteen U.S. killed and fifty-one wounded. The lost U.S. personnel included SP4 Lonnie D. Alley, PFC Joel G. Anders, SP4 Gene T. Bailey, SP4 Benjamin J. Belarde (posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal), PFC Joseph M. Brown, PFC Robert E. Davis, SP5 Michael A. Fay, 1LT Steven H. Gerlach (posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal), PFC Dennis S. Gleason, 1LT James T. Gorsich, SP4 Charles L. Howe, PFC Willie Jackson, SP4 Leo J. Matylewicz, SP4 Cecil R. Millspaugh, PFC Maurice Moore, SP4 James M. Moser, PFC James A. Osterloth, SP4 Lawrence P. Pennel, and 2LT Harvey J. Tompkins. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “General 1969 MACV Monthly March Part 2” at ttu.edu]

Dear Lt Harvey Tompkins, Thank you for your service as an Infantry Unit Commander. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is Agent Orange Awareness Month. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

a GREAT FRIEND who will always be remembered as long as I am alive

Dear 2LT Harvey Joseph Tompkins, 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, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter