THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

Dear Cpl Clark Williams, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Happy New Year. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance, and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

Landing Zone East was established in 1967 by the 196th Infantry Brigade and was located approximately ten miles west of Tam Ky in Quang Tin Province, RVN. The base was occupied by elements of the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment and 3rd Battalion, 82nd Artillery when it was attacked by the North Vietnamese Army’s 35th Sapper Battalion on the morning of June 11, 1969. At about 2:30 AM, the NVA first hit a bunker at the very outer edge of the perimeter of the landing zone, destroying it with a rocket-propelled grenade. The sappers then began to run up the hill throwing grenades and firing AK-47’s. They struck with an overwhelming force, marching their mortar rounds systematically up the hill, striking bunkers and lighting up the sky. The Americans at East fought back with unit weapons, but the base was overrun. When dawn arrived, the Americans counterattacked and drove the NVA from the destroyed base. Sixteen U.S. troopers lost their lives and thirty-four were wounded. The lost personnel included PFC Ronald G. Crowe, SP4 Frank F. De Maria Jr., PFC Charles D. Green, CPL Freddy L. Holloway, SP4 Edward Johnson, SP4 Jack C. Lee, SGT David G. Michel, CPT Karl W. Mills, CPL Edward V. Palmenta, SFC Floyd L. Pitre, SFC Daniel G. Reid, SP4 Douglas L. Strickland, CPL James C. Strube, PFC Terry L. Thornton, PFC Bruce H. Tibbetts, and CPL Clark L. Williams. Enemy losses were estimated at sixty-nine killed. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, wikipedia.org, and missionvietnam.org]

I was 13 years old when the service members came to notify the family of Clark Williams death in Vietnam. I was at Doug McTeer store in Early Branch, S.C. when 2 veterans asked for directions to the family of Clark Williams.