THE WALL OF FACES

First Lieutenant Augusto Maria Xavier, Served with Marine Attack Squadron 311 (VMA-311), Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), Third Marine Amphibious Force.

The U.S. Army’s 5th Special Forces camp in the A Shau Valley in Thua Thien Province, RVN, was established to monitor and interfere with North Vietnamese Army (NVA) infiltration from Laos. The location of the base displeased the NVA which viewed it as an impediment to their tactical objectives. Hence, on the early morning of March 9, 1966, the camp's 17 U.S. and 375 Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) defenders came under attack by an estimated 2000 NVA troops. Bad weather severely limited supporting air strikes and U.S. Air Force C-123 flareships could only drop aerial flares through the clouds providing illumination for the defenders. By mid-morning, the defenders were in dire straits. Despite the poor weather conditions, a U.S. Air Force AC-47D (#44-76290) of the 4th Air Commando Squadron managed to work its way below the clouds and fire on the NVA troops massed at the camp's outer perimeter. On its second pass, the AC-47D was hit by enemy fire, crash-landing on a mountain slope about five miles north of the camp. The six crewmen survived the crash but were attacked by the NVA. Two men were killed and another wounded before a U.S. Air Force HH-43 arrived on scene. The HH-43 rescued three of the survivors after the fourth, 1LT Delbert R. Peterson, sacrificed himself to allow the others to board the helicopter. A limited number of U.S. Air Force A-1s were able to work below the overcast, and two C-123s were brought in for resupply drops. The NVA renewed their attack on the night of March 9-10. Early on the 10th, an A-4 Skyhawk (#148518) from VMA-311 was lost while trying to work below the overcast. On the afternoon of the 10th, the fort was evacuated by 24 U.S. Marine UH-34s helicopters. Small groups of ARVN and Special Forces troops (and one downed Marine helicopter crewman) escaped through the NVA forces. Nine Americans were lost at A Shau during the two-day battle. They included three Air Force crewmen from the AC-47D: CAPT Willard M. Collins, SSGT Robert E. Foster, and 1LT Delbert R. Peterson. All remain missing. Also lost was a Marine A-4 pilot, 1LT Augusto M. Xavier; and five 5th Special Forces soldiers: SFC Raymond Allen, SSG Billie A. Hall, SGT Owen F. McCann, SP5 Phillip T. Stahl, and SGT James L. Taylor. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and virtualwall.org]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. It remains my fervent hope you will be returned home after the passage of so many years.

Dear Lt Augusto Xavier, Thank you for your service as a Light Attack Jet Pilot. Your 57th anniversary is in 7 days, sad. But you are still MIA. Please come home. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Lent has begun. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance, and faithfulness, especially now. Be at peace.

I’m a USMC veteran. I’ve worn this polished POW bracelet in your name since 1991. You’ve never been off my wrist except for surgery. You’ve lived on in my life everyday since for over 32 years… even been to war in Iraq, and you Sir, are NOT forgotten! SEMPER FI