THE WALL OF FACES

Lance Corporal Alfred Van Whitmer, Served with Company B, 1st Battalion, 27th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

On April 13, 1968, in a no-name operation literally called “No Name No. 2,” the 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine Division ran into two North Vietnamese Army (NVA) companies in a fortified hamlet along a small canal north of QL-1 a few miles east of the Hue Citadel in Thua Thien Province, RVN. At 8:21 AM, B-1/27 received heavy automatic weapons, small arms, rocket-propelled grenade, and mortar fire. Taking casualties, the Marines returned fire and attempted to close with the enemy when they became pinned down. Artillery was called onto the NVA positions as Companies A and D joined the fray. A-1/27 ran into heavy fire from the east while D-1/27’s advance was slowed by mines and booby traps. As A-1/27 closed, enemy fire intensified, halting then pinning them down. Artillery fire failed to suppress the NVA fire. Ontos M50 tracked vehicles were deployed to assist the beleaguered battalion. The Marines continued to return fire and regroup, trying to rescue pinned down elements. At 2:07 PM, a landing zone was established, and casualties were medivacked. When all companies were finally able to withdraw, 26 Marines were dead and 37 wounded with a reported 62 enemy killed. The following day, Easter Sunday, the Marines retrieved their dead, bringing them out in ponchos. They were amazed at the enemy's battlefield discipline, noting the NVA had gathered up all their spent cartridges from the trench where they had fought for five hours. Despite reporting dozens of dead, the Marines found only two enemy bodies. The lost U.S. personnel included: (from A-1/27) SSGT Glennis R. Kellams (posthumously awarded the Silver Star), CPL Kenneth M. Watson, LCPL Richard L. Embrey, LCPL Stephen J. Hinds, PFC Raymond Armstrong, PFC Frank W. Atherton, PFC Robert C. Healey Jr., PFC Kenneth L. Hinnant, PFC Larry C. Hopper, PFC Jerry A. Snipes; (from B-1/27) 2LT Alan A. Kettner, CPL James E. Hodge, LCPL Terry L. Fuhrman, (died of wounds 04/14/1968), LCPL Alfred V. Whitmer, PFC Roger A. Boomsma, PFC Douglas L. Long, PFC Barry D. Lord, PFC Paul L. Whitthorne, PFC William W. Wilson, PVT Ray T. Comfort; (from C-1/27) CPL Joseph C. Reid, PFC Donald L. Mansfield, and PFC William G. Parker; (from H&S-1/27) SSGT Fred J. Hayes (posthumously awarded the Silver Star); and Navy corpsmen HN3 Robert L. Dodsworth and HN Richard E. Cawley. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, virtualwall.org, and “U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Defining Year, 1968” by Shulimson, Blasiol, Smith, and Dawson]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever.

Dear Lcpl Alfred Whitmer, Thank you for your service as a Combat Engineer. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is the 5th Day of Christmas (date on this site is wrong), Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance, and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

I was stationed with "Whit" (as we called him) at FMFPAC HQ, Camp H.M. Smith, HI, for several months before he went overseas, same platoon, barracks. I remember him as always having a cheerful and social attitude, a good guy. May his family and friends be comforted in knowing that he was a well-liked individual; we all miss him, even now.