THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Waycross (March 24 – 25, 1966) was a 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 5th Division search and destroy operation northwest of Phu Loi in Binh Duong Province, RVN. The objective of Waycross was to locate and destroy the Viet Cong (VC) forces which raided the ARVN 5th Division Headquarters elements at Phu Cuong, the capital of Binh Duong Province, and recover captured equipment. Among the items lost was an ARVN M41 Walker Bulldog tank believed captured by the VC during the March 23rd assault on the compound. On the first day of Waycross, contact was established with VC in the Phu Cuong area. During a three-and-one-half-hour firefight, U.S. forces engaged in heavy fighting, sustaining 14 killed and 25 wounded. The lost personnel included (from A-1/26) PFC Al J. Chattin, PFC James M. Cornett, SGT James A. Doke, SGT Carl H. Joyner, PFC Albert M. Keen Jr., SGT Allen G. Lane, SGT Robert L. Mack, PFC Leonard D. May, SGT Jesus A. Munoz, PFC Clyde E. Murr, PFC George T. Reynolds (medically evacuated to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, died of wounds 03/27/1966), PFC Michael D. Schatzley, PFC Robert E. Urbanovsky, and PFC General White. Enemy losses were unknown. The missing tank was not immediately recovered. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and cia.gov/readingroom]

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed...
We feel lucky to have seen it.

Dear PFC Robert Urbanovsky, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. 9/11's anniversary is tomorrow. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

We love you and think of you often Uncle Bobby, although we have never met.
We have shared stories of you with each other, with other family members, and with students at Hermes Elementary in La Grange, TX, where your niece is a teacher and your great niece and great nephew attend school.

With Love,

Sue Smith, PE teacher, (DOB 1973)-niece
Westin Smith, 5th grader, (DOB 2006)-great nephew
Camryn Smith, 4th grader, (DOB 2007)-great niece

Dear PFC Robert Eugene Urbanovsky, 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, Sir

Curt Carter