THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Toan Thang II (June 1, 1968 - February 16, 1969) was a U.S. Army and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) operation designed to keep pressure on the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army forces in III Corps. The 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) was placed under operational control of the 25th Infantry Division where it acted as a ready reaction force. The “Screaming Eagle” paratroopers conducted extensive operations to interdict enemy movement along avenues of approach to the capital and other critical installations. During the final week of August 1968, there was an increase in enemy activity throughout their area of tactical responsibility. On the 27th, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment received extremely heavy small arms fire while conducting an Eagle Flight eight kilometers (5.0 miles) north of Trang Bang in Hau Nghia Province. The contact continued for more than two hours despite the deployment of artillery and tactical air strikes on enemy positions. B, C, and D Companies of the 2nd Battalion were “piled on,” inserted on the west, east, and south to form a tight cordon around the contact area. During the night, the enemy attempted to break out of the cordon supported by mortar and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Artillery and illumination supported the paratroopers. At first light on the 28th, a slow, methodical search of the battle area was conducted by B and D Companies with frequent enemy contact throughout the day. The operation netted 105 enemy killed and 13 captured. U.S. losses were 16 killed and 28 wounded. They included (A-2/506th) SGT Kenneth D. Combs, SGT James R. Harris, SGT Charles Soto, CPL William F. Flaherty III, and PFC James C. Barbour Jr.; (B-2/506th) SSG Thomas R. Lamb, SGT Michael J. Mitchell, SP4 Victor M. Plourde, CPL Isiah Thomas, CPL Robert J. Washington, PFC James J. Criswell, PFC Armando S. Navarro, PFC James R. Pizzano, PFC Paul M. Stockwell, and PFC Thomas V. Williams Jr.; and (D-2/506th) PFC Frank H. Johns. One of the wounded, medic SP4 Michael J. Rowcroft (HHC-2/506th), died September 25, 1990, from the effects of his wounds. He had been confined to a wheelchair following his injuries in Vietnam. Rowcroft’s name was added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in May 1993. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, virtualwall.org, and “Operational Report of the 3rd Brigade 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) for Period Ending 31 October 1968” at ttu.edu]

Taken from The Daily News (Lebanon, PA), May 7, 1993.

Dear Sp4 Michael Rowcroft, Thank you for your service as an Airborne Qualified a Medical NCO, Thank you for the lives you saved. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Another Halloween is soon Time moves quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

So young yet still remembered after all these years by those who knew you. Rest in peace

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.
Both born on 2/19/1949 you, too, would be 72 now.....