THE WALL OF FACES

Dear PFC James Trushaw, Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. I researched you on your 74th birthday, happy birthday. 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.

Never forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine

PFC James E. Trushaw was a Rifleman in Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. On the morning of Sept. 21, 1967 the Battalion was ordered to conduct a sweep along the south side of the new "McNamera line", about 3 Km east of Con Thein, near the abandoned village of Phu Oc. Fox and Echo Company left the Battalion perimeter around 7:00 AM and began to sweep east. Golf Co left the Perimeter around 7:30 AM and went south to serve as a blocking force for Fox and Echo. Shortly after Golf Co left the perimeter, Fox Company walked into an ambush when they walked into a large NVA bunker complex that contained an estimated Battalion of NVA soldiers. The PFC Trushaw was in the point squad for Fox Co and hit by rifle and machine gun fire at point blank range, One of his fellow Squad members was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on this day as they attempted to withdraw from the ambush. Echo Company diverted from their patrol route to assist Fox Co and their point squad walked into the same NVA bunker complex about 200 yards north of Fox Company and had 2 Marines killed in the initial burst of fire. Golf Company was ordered to moved around to the south and the attach north into the flank of the NVA bunker complex. Golf made an on line bayonet assault across a 60 yard wide dry rice paddy into the NVA bunker complex. Golf attacked around 1:00 PM and only withdrew when ordered around 5:00 PM. Fox and Golf Co linked up and all 3 Companies returned to the Battalion perimeter shortly after dark after evacuating all of the wounded and recoverable dead. 31 Marines and Sailors were Killed, 118 Wounded in this day long battle. I was a rifleman in Golf Co that was out there less than 300 yards from PFC. Trushaw on this day. We never met, but he is my brother. Semper Fi James. Cpl. Ron Goddard, 2nd Plt, Golf 2/4

This is his boot camp photo from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, Platoon 3001. He earned the title “U.S. Marine” on June 22, 1966.

Thank you for your service to our great country my brother. Semper Fi.

I was in James's squad from the time I first met him on Okinawa Nov of 66 to Sept 19 1967, when I rotated home. Two days later, (Jet as we called him) was KIA along with a Medal of Honor winner, Jedth Barker who was in our squad from April 1967 to his KIA date which was the same as Jet's. James was one hell of a Marine and always had your back. We all loved the stories about his motor cycles. Guess that's were he got the title of Jet.... God rest his soul.......Semper Fi Brother!....John Mongiove....Lecanto Fl