THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your sister Judy is moving and reflects her eternal love for you. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

Dear PO2C Lyle Zacher, Thank you for your service as an Electrician's Mate 2nd Class. I researched you on your 54th anniversary, sad. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is Lent. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance, and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

On February 27, 1969, enemy rockets were lobbed at the Da Nang bridge loading ramp, destroying Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1500 and YFU-78, a harbor utility craft. LCU-1500 received a direct hit by a rocket of unknown size. Ammunition on the LCU was detonated and an explosion occurred with fire spreading to the nearby YFU. The attack probably would have caused few casualties except for the lucky hit on LCU-1500, which was fully laden with munitions for transport to Dong Ha in Quang Tri Province. It was mostly the secondary explosions and fires which killed the 22 sailors aboard LCU-1500, YFU-78 and NSA Da Nang. Another craft, LCU-1614, sustained minor damage by shrapnel. With the exception of one man from the LCU-1500, all aboard both boats were killed. Total U.S. Navy personnel casualties were reported at 22 Navy men killed and 38 wounded. The 22 men killed during the attack were: LCU-1500, Assault Craft Unit 1, NAVSUPACT Danang - BMC Donald J. Fisher, EN1 Bert E. Burton, EM1 Cecil F. Bush, CS2 Marvin D. Avery, RM2 David W. Hawryshko, GMG3 Ronald J. Gebbie, BM3 Donald M. Horton, BM3 Ronald P. Yuhas, FN Joseph F. Burinda Jr., SN Bruno W. Demata, FN Charles A. Tavares, and SA Craig E. Swagler; YFU-78, Assault Craft Unit 1, NAVSUPACT Danang - EN1 Earl T. Moore Jr., QM1 Milton Shapiro, CS2 Charlie M. Ellison, EM2 Lyle D. Zacher, QM3 Earnest J. Buckelew, BM3 Daniel L. Overright, and SN Melvin L. Sellers; Supply Operations, NAVSUPACT Danang - BM1 Manuel Martinez, SN Thomas E. Adams, and SN Theodore S. Hamner. [Taken from wardogs.com]

Photo taken Oct. 18, 2014, Lyle's 70th birthday.

I am not sure who posted the picture of my brother, Lyle Zacher in his uniform and USS Edson on the shoulder. It is a wonderful picture of him, one that I had never have seen. Thank you for sharing and remembering Lyle.