THE WALL OF FACES

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

PFC Thomas Brooks Jr. is buried in the Mount Olive Memorial Gardens in Augusta, GA.

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

On 08 July 1969 the 3rd Platoon, A Company 1/502nd Infantry, was conducting a sweep in a valley near the hamlet of Ma Cau, just north of the only slightly larger village of Hau Duc. The point squad was ambushed by North Vietnamese soldiers and the following squad moved up to help - but there were sufficient NVA forces to cut off both squads from the remainder of the platoon. The last radio contact with the encircled US force was at 1445 (2:45 pm) on 08 July. Air and artillery fires were used to cordon off the last known US position while reinforcements were moved in, but nightfall precluded a movement to contact. At first light on 09 July elements of 1/502 moved forward and by 0900 had made contact with the surviving US soldiers. Eleven Americans died as a result of the ambush:

SSG James C. Doloughty, Pittsburgh, PA (Died of wounds on 09 Jul 1969)
SGT Russell B. Carson, Greentown, OH
SGT William R. Garner, Burlington, NC
SGT James H. Manning, Haddam, CT
CPL Henry D. Hunter, Omaha, NE
CPL Thomas W. Hurlbut, Byron Center, MI
CPL John D. Martin, Jasper, TN
PFC Vernon D. Artis, Washington, DC
PFC Thomas Brooks, Augusta, GA
PFC Anthony A. Neville, Hyattsville, MD
PFC William E. Sisley, Angola, NY