THE WALL OF FACES

The war may be forgotten but the warrior will always be remembered. All gave Some-Some gave All. Rest in peace Sky Soldier.

I love and miss you so much. I heard you gave me a nickname "Lucy" because of my big mouth. Dont worry I think it as a loving meaning. Are you sure its not because when we so very young and lived in Skokie you told me to lick my finger and stick it in the socket. And I did . I will never forget this and I tell everyone about how stupid it was but I stilled love you and couldn't wait to tell mom and dad. LOL. I was so proud to be your baby sis (at least one of them). I'll always loved you until the day I meet my maker. Then we will together again, just listen for the loud mouth.LOL. RIP till then.

Ranger William's was Frank's squad leader (Team 25, C Co. 75th Infantry, Airborne Rangers).

On August 1st, 1969 the five man team walked into a base camp of an NVA Battalion (200 - 300 Communist Soldiers).

The Team Members included: John Leppelman, Gary Frye, Frankie Walthers, Hoa (Kit Carson Scout), and Harold Williams.

Lt Rick Grimes was overhead coordinating fire support in an O-1 Birddog.

As the team was being overrun during a fierce firefight (in which Frank Walthers was killed), Williams repeatedly requested gunship support right on top of his position. All Team Members were wounded in the firefight and/or from schrapnel from the helicopter rocket launchers and mini-guns.

In response to the fierce firefight an American reaction force (a platoon of Army infantrymen) landed on a mountain top and worked their way down to the team.

At the same time an ARVN (South Vietnamese Army Company) was to land in the valley below and fight their way up to the team.

The American pilots reported the ARVN's would not get out of the helicopters. Lt Grimes instructed the pilots to have their door gunners throw them out.. and they did! Unfortunately, the ARVN's set up a perimeter and didn't move up the hill until the following day.

The American platoon fought their way down to the Ranger team and spent the night alone without the ARVN support. Sometime in the early evening, the platoon leader of the reaction force reported that Ranger Williams went to secure the radio from Walther's dropped backpack and was wounded again.

At daybreak, the team was extracted from the battle zone landing on the tarmac in Phan Thiet. Only three Rangers got off the helicopters.

Williams and Walthers remains were brought out later that day.

You have been missed for all of these years, Frank. Continue to rest in peace.

Chardy

They dropped us on the side of a mountain from a hovering position having us jump in from one side of the Huey about 5-8 feet to a sloped hill. It was the closest and appeared to be the safest route to the Rangers. Lt. Johnson was 1st off but twisted his ankle on landing. As we trekked down the hill, deeper into the jungle canopy, we saw dozens of NVA hooches evidencing a sizeable force was “in Residence”. I’m guessing, but I’m sure they weren’t really happy that SSgt. Williams found them and even less happy the Cavalry showed up. The Cobras were covering our flank as we approached the Rangers.
SSGT Williams had kept his team together as they repositioned from attacks by the NVA. His expert deployment of claymores and directing fire from our Cobra gunships kept the enemy at bay and allowed us to safely expand his position.
Exiting the position in the Base Camp discovered by SSgt. Williams and his team is another story. The real story is about SSgt. Williams and his leadership, his professional soldiering and focus under fire on the safety and well-being of his team members. No, I never met SSgt Harold David Williams or Cpl. Frank Daniel Walthers, but I am glad to have been a witness to two heroes in action.
In these past fifty years, I think of both of you often, so “Sua Sponte” Staff Sergeant Harold David Williams and Cpl. Frank Daniel Walthers! Hope to meet you both on ‘Fiddler’s Green’ someday…..