THE WALL OF FACES

U.S. Army Specialist Four George Warren Underwood, from Quincy, Massachusetts was assigned to Detachment A1-312 (Buon Brieng), 1st Special Forces (SF) Group, U.S. Army Special Forces Vietnam, U.S. Army Support Command Vietnam, MACV as a Special Forces Qualified Medical NCO. SP4 Underwood joined the Army in 1961, and completed Basic Training, Advanced Individual Training, Airborne Training and Special Forces Training before spending six months temporary duty in Vietnam in 1962-1963. After re-enlisting for six years, SP4 Underwood was assigned to Charlie Company, 1st SF Group in Okinawa, Japan and subsequently deployed to Vietnam in June 1964 as the team medic for SF Team A-312 at the Boun Brieng Special Forces camp.

On July 23, 1964, SP4 Underwood was leading a convoy carrying building materials that had been picked up in the mountain town of Ban Me Thout for a school. The SF team also picked up some Chinese Nungs that the U.S. military hired as laborers. The Nungs were not armed. There was also a platoon sized armed CIDG (Civilian Irregular Defense Group) Vietnamese Strike Force personnel for security. While heading back to the base camp at Boun Brieng, traveling along Hwy QL 14, in Darlac Province District, they entered a well-orchestrated ambush site consisting of a battalion sized element of NVA and Viet Cong soldiers. SP4 Underwood was killed along with twenty-four Vietnamese Strike Force personnel.

SP4 Underwood was 21 years old and unmarried at the time of his death. The school that SP4 Underwood and team A-312 were building was named the George W. Underwood School in his memory.

[Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and quincyveterans.org]

George was a kind and generous person. When he was in San Antonio, TX for advanced Special Forces training, he spent money on Christmas gifts for an orphanage instead of flying home. He was killed in Viet Nam on his way back to the village with supplies where he was helping to build a school.

George is buried at Mount Wollaston Cemetery, Quincy, Norfolk County, MA.

Dear SP4 George Warren Underwood, 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

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

Mary Frye – 1932