THE WALL OF FACES

Phuoc Vinh Base Camp was a U.S. Army base north of Bien Hoa in Binh Duong Province, RVN. On July 27, 1967, the camp and airfield were attacked with 137 rounds of 122mm rocket and 82mm mortar fire. Thirteen U.S. were killed in the barrage and 71 were wounded. The lost Americans included the following U.S. Army personnel: SP4 William L. Amos, PFC John C. Biondillo, SP4 Merl W. Ferguson, SGT William Gazard, SP4 Kenneth L. Hendrix, SP4 David L. Meyers, SFC Leroy A. Nelson, SP4 Bobby G. Peterson, PFC Ernest Phillips, PFC Richard J. Wehrheim, and SP5 Harold E. Young. SGT John R. Evans was accidently killed during the bombardment while he was helping another soldier out of a foxhole when a rifle discharged. The errant round struck Evans, fatally injuring him. An airman on the base from the 8th Aerial Port Squadron was also killed, SSGT Harold D. Moneysmith. Moneysmith and a couple other Air Force personnel were stationed at Phuoc Vinh to handle logistics for Air Force flights to and from the base. He was reportedly outside of his tent when the 9:00 PM attack began and suffered a fragmentation wound to the neck. There were light equipment and material damage sustained at the installation. A later Allied search and destroy operation located the enemy 122mm rocket positions approximately four miles northwest of the base. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and Headquarters, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Office of Information, monthly press release for July 1967]

Thank you Spec 5 Young for your leadership and courage.

You were not my best friend but my only true friend.

Dear SP5 Harold Earl Young, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

FOREVER REMEMBERED

"If you are able, 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.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them....
Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind...."

Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell
KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces.

We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you, one of the gentle heroes lost to the War in Vietnam:

Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul ... and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.

From your Nam-Band-Of-Brothers