THE WALL OF FACES

Say not in grief he is no more, but live in thankfulness that he was.

Dear Sp4 Leverett Yarbrough, Thank you for your service as an Armor Reconnaissance Specialist. 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. Rest in peace with the angels.

Troop H, 17th Cavalry was a ground reconnaissance element of the 198th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. In 1970, the unit was comprised of M551 Sheridan tanks and M113A armored personnel carriers (APC’s). Platoons, when operating at full strength, contained three tanks and seven APC’s. The troopers performed a variety of missions including road security duties. On October 1, 1970, elements of Troop H were conducting a resupply mission on National Route QL-1 north of Binh Son in Quang Ngai Province, RVN. The country’s northeast monsoon season was just beginning, and many rivers were swollen. Just before noon, a Troop H APC attempted to tow a 5-ton truck across the Tam Ky bridge when it was swept sideways and sunk in the river. The driver, SP4 Lee C. Taylor, was carried away by the fast-moving water. A man in the trailing APC, SP4 Leverette E. Yarbrough, leapt into the river in an effort to save Taylor. A star swimmer in high school, Yarbrough was overwhelmed by the currents and carried off. Helicopters came over the scene and searched for the missing men. Taylor’s body was located downriver at 7:00 AM the following morning tangled in barb wire strung in the river. A few hours later, Yarbrough’s remains were found at the same location. To the grieving H Troopers, it was no surprise that one of their comrades would risk his life for another. Taylor and Yarbrough served together for six months and had been through many harrowing missions. On May 28, 1970, they survived the mining of their M551 Sheridan tank. As gunner and loader, they were riding atop the vehicle when a violent explosion occurred. They were thrown clear, receiving only minor cuts and scratches. The driver, CPL James T. Fisher, was fatally injured in the blast which destroyed the tank and left a 20-foot crater in the roadway. Their combat experiences forged a bond between them, one in which they could always rely on each other. Even in the face of death, neither Taylor nor Yarbrough would hesitate to help the other. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Michael J. Thyne (November 2022)]

He was a very sweet guy. He is a person I will never forget always will be in my heart. I just wished thing had turned out different. Love ❤️

SP4 Leverett E. Yarbrough served with H Troup, 17th Cavalry, 198th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, US Army Vietnam.

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH