THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. Your Silver Star award attests to your courage and devotion to our country. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever.

Dear Cap Frank Vavrin, Thank you for your service as an Infantry Unit Commander. I researched you on your 52nd anniversary, sad. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart . Autumn has begun. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

When Frank was 11 years old. I, Paul, was being badly treated by a bully. We lived in a North Carolina Army base. This was an army brat bully. Frank pushed me aside and told me to go home. I watched as Frankie was beat to the ground for me. He did not want to anyone to see he was crying. He got my heart and I gave him the Medal of Honor.

We can never truly repay the great debt we owe our fallen heroes. Rest in peace CAPT. Vavrin, I salute your brave soul.

On September 8, 1970, the Tra Bong District Headquarters and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Ranger compound in Quang Ngai Province, RVN, received over 100 rounds of mortar fire, heavy small arms and automatic weapons fire followed by a coordinated ground and sapper attack from the 409th North Vietnamese Army Main Force Sapper Battalion. Twenty-one friendly troops were killed in the attack including one American advisor, CPT Frank N. Vavrin from Advisory Team 17, Headquarters, MACV Advisors. Another 34 friendlies were wounded. Twenty-four enemy were killed and six were detained. The district headquarters was 75% destroyed, and the CIDG compound, Regional Forces camp, and the Rural Development Cadre area suffered significant damage. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and Operational Report, Lesson Learned, Headquarters, 23rd Infantry Division, period ending October 1970]