THE WALL OF FACES

I discovered this memorial while doing research. I am the current commander of the 7th Public Affairs Detachment (Mobile). I was researching the unit history to see which campaigns we participated in and to know a little more about the work the unit had done historically to inform my soldiers. If you are a veteran of the 7th PID I would like to hear your story. It's important we remember those who came before us, like Stephen Warner, and connect with our lineage just as every other unit does. You can contact me via email below. Thanks --MAJ Marcus D. Byrne, 7th MPAD.

Specialist Stephen Henry Warner graduated with the Gettysburg College Class of 1968. During his time at Gettysburg (1964-1968), Warner was a member of the service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, and wrote regularly for The Gettysburgian, eventually becoming the editor of the features section. He was incredibly vocal in his opposition to the war, serving on a committee of students opposed to the war, and using his platform at the newspaper to further spread his thoughts about American involvement in Vietnam. After graduating, Warner continued his education at Yale Law School but was drafted into the Army after his first year. He began his tour in Vietnam on March 21, 1970 as an Information Specialist in Squadron 3 of the 5TH Cavalry Regiment, serving under the command of the 101st Airborne. SP4 Warner was killed in action 11 months into his tour, on February 14, 1971, in the Quang Tri region of Vietnam. Before his death, he bequeathed his records of the war to Musselman Library, which keeps the Stephen H. Warner Memorial Collection. His accounts have been compiled into a book called Killed in Action: The life and times of SP4 Stephen H. Warner, draftee, journalist, and anti-war activist, written by Arthur J. Amchan.

Operation Lam Son 719 was a South Vietnamese army push into Laos between February 8th and March 25th, 1971, to disrupt supply buildups of the North Vietnamese Army there. The United States provided logistical, aerial, and artillery support to the operation, but its ground forces were prohibited by law from entering Laotian territory. On February 14, 1971, SGT Richard D. Covert Jr., SP5 Paul G. Bright, PFC Ronald C. Ruff, and SP4 Stephen H. Warner, an Army journalist, were riding in an M113 armored personnel carrier (APC) in support of the operation near the east slope Hill 558, about three miles northwest of Khe Sanh Airfield in Quang Tri Province, RVN. Their APC was headed to a wooded area from where small arms gunfire was being received when the track was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. The attack killed Covert, Ruff, and Warner, and critically injured Bright. He was evacuated to a U.S. military hospital where he expired on March 2, 1971. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by John Pecoraro]

Dear SP4 Stephen Henry Warner, 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

Although we called ourselves the USARV, Public Information Office, the actual unit designation was the 7th Public Information Detachment. Our primary job was to travel throughout RVN and produce hometowners, which were interviews either written or for newspapers to be run in the 'Grunts' home town paper or radio station. We also wrote articles and took photographs for the two or three magazine publications in RVN. Steve was probably our brightest and most focused soldier. Although he was vehemently opposed to warfare, he felt it was his job to tell the story of the individual 'Grunt' and what he had to contend with on a day to day basis.

Steve was scheduled to begin a previously approved and scheduled in country R&R at Vung Tau on the 13th of February, 1971. He had been operating out of Quang Tri in the area of the Rockpile for several weeks and rather than take his scheduled R&R he opted to stay with his 'guys' to continue to tell their story. I had just received orders to head to Quang Tri to set up Press Support Operations for the 51 accredited press members that would cover Lam Son 719, which was the 1971 RVN incursion into Laos. I suggested that he go ahead and take his well deserved R&R. However he felt it was more important to stay with the unit he was working with than take a few safe days off and travel to the beach at Vung Tau. He simply asked that I collect his accumulated mail and bring it North with me.

Unfortunately by the time I got to Quang Tri, word came back that he had been killed by an RPG that struck the front of the Track he was on (we rode on the top rather than in the Track due to the heat).

The terrible waste of war. such an outstanding individual.

Our unit had some memorable members; Mark Jury, who published the Vietnam Photo Book based on images he had made while a member of the 7th PID, and Bernie Edelman, who wrote, Dear America, Letters Home from Vietnam. Both served with Steve.

As well know as other members of our unit have become, none were as dedicated to the common soldier as was Steve.

Rest in Peace, Steve. We miss you still.