THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Sheridan Sabre (November 7, 1968 - April 4, 1969) was a security operation in Binh Long Province, RVN, to prevent North Vietnamese Army infiltration from Cambodia. The 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) was the lead element of the Division and was airlifted to Quan Loi Base Camp to begin operations. At approximately 6:30 AM on November 25th, elements of 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment conducted a search and clear mission on interprovincial route LTL-20, six kilometers (3.7 miles) southwest of Thien Ngon in Tay Ninh Province, when they engaged an estimated enemy company. Fighting continued over two hours when the enemy broke contact. It was reestablished 30 minutes later when 25 enemy combatants were detected in a nearby tree line. Air strikes, tubed and aerial artillery, and helicopter gunships supported the U.S. forces. Contact was again lost at 10:30 AM. Fifty-two enemy were killed with 20 individual weapons and 17 crew-served weapons captured. The fighting cost nine American lives with nine others wounded. The lost personnel included (from A-1/7) CPT Michael D. Birdwell; (from B-1/7) SP4 Francisco Alvarez, SP4 Melvin E. Bevier, SP4 James E. King, PFC Florentino Martinez Jr., PFC Thomas M. Whitfield, and SP4 George L. Young; and (from D-1/7) 1LT John F. Fitzgibbons and SP4 Larry G. Hetzler. In the wake of the losses, several promotions occurred posthumously: Alvarez and King were elevated to Sergeant, and Martinez and Whitfield were advanced to Corporal. During a sweep of the battle area the following day, elements of the 3rd Brigade with the 5th Vietnamese Marine Battalion found an additional 71 enemy bodies, raising the total of enemy dead to 123. Two days later, an additional 15 enemy bodies were found by an aerial reconnaissance team from the 1st Cavalry Division, again lifting the total to 138 enemy killed. Six enemy suspects were also detained, and a small ammunition and equipment cache captured. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, vvmf.org, and “Operational Report - Lessons Learned, Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), Period Ending 31 January 1969” at archive.org]

Remember to save for them a place inside of you, and save one backward glance when you are leaving, for the places they can no longer go...

On the remembrance of your birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

GARRYOWEN

Dear Sp4 George Young, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman with the 1st Cavalry. 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.

Never forgotten.

GARRYOWEN