THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will never truly die.

We can never truly repay the debt we owe our fallen heroes.

Specialist Four Arfien Clifford Ali Jr., Served with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, United States Army Vietnam.

SP4 Arfien C. Ali was an Airborne-qualified infantryman serving with B Company, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. On February 10, 1966, SP4 Ali was part of a platoon-sized search and destroy mission in Phu Yen Province, RVN, a 10-day sweep to deny the Viet Cong from stealing local rice harvests. In the late afternoon of the second day, the platoon had set up on small hill where the paratroopers began digging fighting holes as they established their night defensive perimeter. After darkness fell, the troopers settled into their foxholes. Around 7:30 PM, Ali left his position and moved forward of the line to relieve himself. He failed to alert others near him of his intentions, and as Ali returned to the line he was fired on by a “cherry” trooper (an inexperienced replacement) with an M16 rifle. He was critically wounded in the left thigh, right arm, and left lumbar. A medic provided Ali with first aid as they waited for a medivac. The evacuation helicopter, slow to respond, was further delayed when they were unable locate the paratroopers’ position. An attached mortar team had to fire three illumination flares before the dustoff finally touched down. Ali was taken to the Medical Company where efforts to sustain him nearly failed. He was later transferred to an evacuation hospital where he died nine days later. The remorseful shooter was disarmed and kept overnight on the hill, then removed the following day. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Raymond Capwell (June 2019)]

We still remember you after 50 years
God Bless You Trooper