THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. While all deaths in Vietnam are tragic the circumstances of your passing are especially so. May you rest in eternal peace.

You were one of the brave that answered the call. You honored us by your service and sacrifice. We now honor you each time we stand and sing the words “THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE”. Rest in Peace and Honor Marvin.

Dear Spec 5 Briesacher,
Thank you for your service as an Aircraft Electrician. This is Independence Day weekend, and it is important for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

I remember the day, that afternoon. I had asked you to look at an electrical problem on one of my OH58s. You were on your way to eat and said you would check it out when you got back. You never got that chance. I will always remember our last conversation dear friend.

At the helicopter base at Dong Ba Thin, home of the 92nd Assault Helicopter Company, the enlisted men had made themselves a "club" where they could go at night and drink some beer and visit. On November 3, 1971, in what can be characterized as a racially-motivated attack, a black infantry company member went into the club with his M-16 and fired three shots from the waist before his gun jammed, at which point men in the club jumped him. Two soldiers were killed, SP4 Albin L. Kendall and SP4 Errol L. Kent. A third, SP5 Marvin C. Briesacher, was critically wounded in the lung, diaphragm, liver, and 8th vertebra of the spine. He was hospitalized where surgeons had to remove part of his lung. The perpetrator in this incident was put on a Nighthawk-crewed helicopter for removal to Cam Ranh for his own protection as “justice” was nearly served upon him by those he sought to harm. One of the Nighthawk pilots commented later that the killer laughed all the way to Cam Ranh. Following hospitalization, SP5 Briesacher’s condition improved and for a time he was able to write letters home to his parents. However, on Thanksgiving Day 1971, he became paralyzed from the waist down and underwent surgery for an abscessed liver. His condition deteriorated and he died December 10, 1971. [Some details of this incident were provided by Richard Harris; other info comes from coffeltdatabase.org and the Dakota County Tribune (Farmington, MN) December 16, 1971]