THE WALL OF FACES

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.

Operation Paul Revere I (May 10 - July 31, 1966) was a 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division search and destroy border surveillance operation in the Chu Pong Mountain area of Pleiku Province, RVN. Third Brigade units made no significant contact throughout the first two weeks of operations; however, two U.S. Special Forces-led Civilian Irregular Defense Group companies made heavy contact with an estimated two North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Battalions five miles southwest of the Plei Djereng Special Forces Camp on May 24th. Heavy contact was again made on May 28th when a 3rd Brigade maneuver battalion (2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment) was ambushed by elements of the 33rd NVA Regiment as it air-assaulted into landing zone (LZ) 10 Alpha about five miles north of Due Co. The incoming assault helicopters were raked with fire from at least five 12.7mm antiaircraft machine guns, four of which were mounted in the trees a short distance northeast of the LZ. Before these guns could be knocked out by air strikes, four helicopters were shot down. A U.S. Air Force Forward Air Controller (FAC) dispatched to the scene guided a flight of F-4C Phantom II jets which expended their 500-pound bombs against the suspected locations of the enemy guns. The FAC’s continued air strikes with clearance from the Brigade Commander to hit anything within a 1500-meter radius of LZ 10 Alpha. A C-123 flareship dropped flares to keep the battlefield illuminated as action continued through the night into the next day. It was not until late on the night of May 29th that the enemy broke all contact and withdrew. During the next three days, 218 NVA bodies were found, and subsequent discoveries of enemy grave sites over the next month raised the final enemy toll to nearly 470 killed. Two NVA prisoners were taken during the 40-hour battle, and large quantities of arms and equipment were confiscated. American losses were 13 killed and 39 wounded. The lost U.S. personnel were (A-1/35) PFC John F. Barry, SGT Thomas D. Campbell, SP4 Charlie A. Carden, PFC Sheldon R. Cohen, PFC Billy R. Patrick, SGT Wallace E. Pilson, PFC Richard R. Roundtree, and PFC Walter J. Wetzel; (B-2/35) 2LT Michael T. Glynne, SGT William E. Humphrey (died of wounds 02/06/1980, added to the Wall in May 2004), PFC Leroy Robinson, and PFC Sylvester Swinford Jr.; and (HHC-2/35) SP5 Roy M. Jones. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Project CHECO: Operation Paul Revere/Sam Houston, 27 July 1967” at archive.com]

Recently I found Walter's Name engraved on a plaque, at the base of the WW 1 Doughboy Monument in Rockaway Beach, between 94th and 95th Street.
Then I searched and found his picture, on The Wall Of Faces. That brought back old memories.
I remember playing handball with Walter, in the courts on 98th St. outside Playland, my friends and I new him as Joey.
The Engraved Plaque on the Doughboy Monument, Honors Walter Joseph Wetzel, and many others including an old classmate of mine, John Patrick Mc Gonigal.
Now Walter and John are in a much safer and better world, each of them are in good hands in Heaven.
I just want to wish Walter's Family, relatives and friends a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.

Dear PFC Walter Wetzel, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is Advent, and Christmas is soon. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance, and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Walked upon your resting place today, wanted to Thank You and your family. You are not Forgotten.