THE WALL OF FACES

Cleaveland (Cleveland) Floyd Bridgman
Date of birth: August 21, 1946
Date of death: April 1, 1970
Home of record: South Dartmouth Massachusetts
Status: KIA

AWARDS AND CITATIONS

Silver Star

Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Cleaveland (Cleveland) Floyd Bridgman (ASN: 0-23324928), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Battery D, 1st Battalion (Airmobile), 77th Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division, in the Republic of Vietnam. First Lieutenant Bridgeman distinguished himself by valorous action on 1 April 1970, while serving as fire direction officer in Fire Base ILLINGWORTH in the Republic of Vietnam. When the base came under intense rocket and mortar fire the Tactical Operations Center took a direct hit, knocking out all communications with the firing elements of the Battery. First Lieutenant Bridgman picked up a radio and moved through the impacting area to a position where he could communicate with the firing elements and adjust their fires. He continued to adjust the artillery fires even when an enemy round impacted nearby, wounding him. His gallant action was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), General Orders No. 6980 (May 1, 1970)

Action Date: April 1, 1970

Service: Army

Rank: First Lieutenant

Company: Battery D

Battalion: 1st Battalion (Airmobile)

Regiment: 77th Artillery Regiment

Division: 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)

Cleave is buried at Forest Hills Cemetery, Jamaica Plain,Mass. SS AM PH

Dear 1LT Cleaveland Floyd Bridgman, sir,

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for the ultimate sacrifice that you 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. And please know that men and women like you have stepped forward to defend our country yet again, showing the same love for country and their fellow Americans that you did- you would be proud.

With respect, and the best salute that a civilian can muster for you.

Curt Carter

We think of you again today and many days, of you courage, and dedication to duty, country and comrades.

During the period immediately prior to the Cambodian incursion US and ARVN units conducted extensive operations along the South VietNam and Cambodian border. During March and April of 1970 the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry opened and closed seven fire bases to support these operations. Fire Base Illingworth, located on Route LTL-20 about 35 kilometers northwest of Tay Ninh City, was opened on 17 March, assaulted by a battalion of the 272nd NVA Regiment in the early morning hours of 01 April, and closed on 04 April as the focus of US operations shifted.

While the assault on FSB Illingworth cost the North Vietnamese nearly two hundred dead, the Americans paid a high price too - 25 known dead, 54 wounded. The US dead were

• A Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
  o SGT Kenneth R. Hodge, Johnson City, TN (Initially not Identified on Base)
  o CPL John L. Smith, Mill Brook, AL (Initially Identified as C/2-8)

• A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Artillery
  o SP4 David H. Lassen, Clarence, NY
  o SP4 Terry L. Schell, Chicago, IL

• Headquarters & Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Artillery
  o SSG Lawrence E. Sutton, Portland, OR (Bronze Star "V")

• B Battery, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery
  o PFC Thomas R. Bowen, Forestville, CA
  o 1LT Cleaveland F. Bridgman, South Dartmouth, MA (Silver Star)
  o SSG Benjamin V. Childress, Knoxville, TN
  o SGT Syriac Hebert, Pine Bluff, AR
  o SGT Robert H. Lane, Concord, TN

• Headquarters & Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery
  o SP4 Thomas J. Murphy, River Falls, WI
  o SSG Steven J. Williams, Portland, OR

• A Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry
  o CPL Billy P. Carlisle, Pelahatchie, MS (Initially Identified as C/2-8)

• C Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry
  o CPL Leroy J. Fasching, Wibaux, MT
  o SGT Robert A. Hill, Lowell, OH
  o PFC Roger J. McInerny, Richfield, MN
  o CPL Michael R. Patterson, Dearborn, MI
  o SGT Gerald W. Purdon, Cincinnati, OH
  o CPL Klaus D. Schlieben, Richmond, VA

• E Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry
  o CPL Bobby L. Barker, Harvey, IL
  o CPL Nathan J. Mann, Warsaw, MO
  o SGT Brent A. Street, Inglewood, CA (Dist Svc Cross)
  o SGT Casey O. Waller, Cumberland, VA (Dist Svc Cross)

• Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry
  o SGT David G. Dragosavac, Meadville, PA
  o SGT Sidney E. Plattenburger, Charlotte, NC