THE WALL OF FACES

On the evening of 14 December 1966 Echo Company moved from their ambush site to the south bank of the Song La Tho River.

LCpl. Brigham and his team were located upstream from PFC Cummings' team. The rest of the platoon dug in some 500 yards away. An hour later LCpl. Brigham's squad opened fire on a VC element moving along the opposite riverbank. The squad leader was sending two men across the river to check the bodies.

PFC Cummings watched A.B. Brigham and Poncho preparing to cross the muddy river. LCpl. Brigham entered the water upstream from PFC Cummings' squad with Poncho right behind him. As the two Marines swam across the fast moving river, the Americans heard an enemy AK-47 rifle go off. The VC had come back for their dead.

As he watched his friends' progress, He appeared to be struggling to keep afloat when his head went under water, then popped up again as the river's current began to pull him downstream.

Over the next several minutes, PFC Cummings swam as hard as he could with the current to reach A.B. Brigham. He swam to the middle of the river and dove under to try to locate him there, but again found nothing.

Over the next several hours, the five Marines continued to examine the Song La Tho River from the point where LCpl. Brigham disappeared for a distance of at least 500 meters downstream.

The entire search operation continued until just before dusk.

At the time the formal search was terminated, A.B. Brigham was reported as Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered.

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POSTED ON 7.2.2017

POSTED BY: Lucy Conte Micik

Remembered

Dear Lcpl Brigham,
Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. Semper Fi. I read you are still MIA.
Please come home.
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.

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