THE WALL OF FACES

Dear PFC Richard Wehrheim, Thank you for your service as a Personnel Specialist. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Thanksgiving is today. Happy Thanksgiving. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

I was only 12 when I heard my older sister, Janice scream and cry from her room upstairs. She loved you so much. I am not sure who it was any more that told her, but do remember her cries and asking the person who came back downstairs if you had died. I was told yes, but I already knew just from Janice's cries. She learned that you were not suppose to be in Viet Nam at the time of your death, because you had given a furlough you had to Hawaii to a friend so he could see his wife. You were so kind and caring about others. Days later, Janice received a phone call from someone who said you were still alive. It gave Janice a little bit of hope but only to be heart broken again because some cruel, heartless person was making a prank call. Janice was heart broken all over again and her hopes of that horrible news was false vanished. You tolerated her little sister who was the typical little sister pest. Always kind, but somewhat shy it seemed. Thank you for your huge sacrifice, you life was cut short way too soon. Your girlfriend's little sister, Pamela Walker.

Phuoc Vinh Base Camp was a U.S. Army base north of Bien Hoa in Binh Duong Province, RVN. On July 27, 1967, the camp and airfield were attacked with 137 rounds of 122mm rocket and 82mm mortar fire. Thirteen U.S. were killed in the barrage and 71 were wounded. The lost Americans included the following U.S. Army personnel: SP4 William L. Amos, PFC John C. Biondillo, SP4 Merl W. Ferguson, SGT William Gazard, SP4 Kenneth L. Hendrix, SP4 David L. Meyers, SFC Leroy A. Nelson, SP4 Bobby G. Peterson, PFC Ernest Phillips, PFC Richard J. Wehrheim, and SP5 Harold E. Young. SGT John R. Evans was accidently killed during the bombardment while he was helping another soldier out of a foxhole when a rifle discharged. The errant round struck Evans, fatally injuring him. An airman on the base from the 8th Aerial Port Squadron was also killed, SSGT Harold D. Moneysmith. Moneysmith and a couple other Air Force personnel were stationed at Phuoc Vinh to handle logistics for Air Force flights to and from the base. He was reportedly outside of his tent when the 9:00 PM attack began and suffered a fragmentation wound to the neck. There were light equipment and material damage sustained at the installation. A later Allied search and destroy operation located the enemy 122mm rocket positions approximately four miles northwest of the base. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and Headquarters, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Office of Information, monthly press release for July 1967]

Richard I want to thank you for your service and your ultimate sacrifice. Even though we were first cousins we never met. It is a my great honor to know you are a part of my family. Please note that Richard was originally put on the wall Panel 24E Line 10 as Richard Whrheim and now has been corrected on Panel 26E Line 55.

Private First Class Richard Joseph Wehrheim, Served with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.