THE WALL OF FACES

I live a couple blocks from Joe. When I was 6 years old I would walk to school and Joe would walk me to my grade school. He would meet me and walk me to my grade school door by my Ist grade class. He said he didn’t want me walking all by myself. I will always remember him being so nice to me. God bless him!

Wunder Beach was a U.S. Army logistics and supply base in Quang Tri Province, RVN, along the South China Sea at Thon Me Thuy, 16 kilometers (7.8 miles) east of Quang Tri City and 40 kilometers (24 miles) northwest of Hue. The U.S. first established the base as Utah Beach on March 2, 1968, to support the Tet Counteroffensive. On April 17, 1968, the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, were moved to Wunder Beach to assume responsibility for the defense of its perimeter. Seven days later, on April 24th, the battalion’s position was hit by over a dozen rounds of 5" naval gunfire. A check fire on all naval gunfire was sent to the Base Coordinator in Quang Tri City prompting battalion radio operators on the naval gunfire frequency to halt all fire missions. Unable to reach any station, they changed frequencies and contacted naval personnel aboard the U.S. Navy Swiftboat Enfield Cobra Charlie which had observed the destroyer USS Mullany (DD-528), call sign “Cherry,” firing towards the beach. At the request of the battalion, personnel from the Swiftboat boarded the USS Mallany. They obtained information that another unit had requested naval gunfire and cleared the fire mission. Two Marines died in the friendly fire incident and three others were seriously injured. Four sustained non-serious injuries, and two U.S. Army personnel were wounded. The lost Marines were LCPL Larry E. Anderson and LCPL Joseph J. Brady. Both men sustained shrapnel wounds to the entire body. The rounds also destroyed one bunker, one M16 rifle, and one M60 machine gun. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, Command Chronology for period April 1-30, 1968” at ttu.edu]

Joe
Thank you for your service. In 1968 I was an 8th grader in TRHS, I was in your brother Jim's class. I didn't know the family well but my sister was a close friend with your sister and an admirer of your family, described as a tight knit and harmonious group. I can still remember the day when your sister came thru the school library accepting donations for your memorial.

I had a poor understanding of the war then and in spite of my readings and serving with Vietnam Veterans (all of whom I came to admire) during my own enlistment from 1973 to 1976, little has changed over the years. My understanding was that you were drafted; however, of this I'm uncertain. Even in these days of post 9/11 patriotism it is still an understatement to say that it was an unpopular war... there's been so much debate and right or wrong (the war) the fact remains that you answered your country's call and that is your eternal honor, which can only be enhanced by your honorable duty of which we know so little.

God bless your soul and God bless your family.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. May you rest in eternal peace.

Lance Corporal Joseph James Brady, Served with the Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.