THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Greeley was a 173rd Airborne Brigade search-and-destroy operation in the jungle-covered mountains near Dak To in Kontum Province, RVN. On the afternoon of July 10, 1967, three maneuver battalions conducted a sweep near a 2700-foot mountain referred to Hill 830, 12 kilometers (7.2 miles) south of Ben Het village. Companies A, B, and D, 4th Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry, moved west toward their day’s objective when Company A made heavy contact with a dug-in North Vietnamese Army (NVA) unit on Hill 830. Company A received fire from three heavy machine guns at close range. Artillery was called on the enemy positions as Company B closed in to support. They were hit by two more heavy machine guns in undetected bunkers. The NVA further employed light automatic weapons and mortar fire. The enemy positions were mutually supporting and estimated to be occupied by a reinforced NVA company. Company D, which had been in reserve, maneuvered to relieve pressure on the besieged companies. The enemy broke contact at 6:00 PM and withdrew, leaving nine bodies and three weapons behind. Two days later, two NVA wounded were captured in a base camp to the southwest of the contact. American losses were 25 killed and 50 wounded. The lost personnel included (A-4/503rd) SFC Myron S. Beach Jr., PFC John C. Borowski (posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross), SP4 Roger W. Clark, SGT William J. Deuerling (posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal), SP4 Arthur A. Erwin, PFC David H. Johnson, 1LT Daniel W. Jordan (posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross), SP4 Oris L. Poole, SP4 Walter A. Samans Jr., and SP4 Franklin S. Shepherd; (B-4/503rd) SGT David P. Crozier, PFC Jimmy E. Darby, SP4 Larry A. Doring, PFC James Fabrizio, PFC Frazier D. Huggins (posthumously promoted to Corporal), SFC William A. Scott, PFC Malton G. Shores, PFC Harry D. Spier, and SGT Jesus M. Torres; (HHC-4/503rd) SGT Siegfried Kofler, PFC Joel M. Sabel (posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and promoted to Corporal), and MAJ Walter D. Williams; (3/319th Arty) SGT Kenneth L. Brown, PFC Michael S. Mitchell, and 1LT Arthur C. Retzlaff. One of the wounded, SP4 Peter G. Lechnir (B-4/503rd), was evacuated to the United States. Medically retired and confined to a wheelchair, he died of his injuries on February 15, 1973. Lechnir’s name was added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in November 1991. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vvmf.org]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

The war may be forgotten but the warrior will always be remembered. All gave Some-Some gave All. Rest in peace Sky Soldier.

Dear Sgt Brown,
Thank you for your service as an Airborne Qualified Cannon Crewmember. Watch over our nation, it needs your strength.Rest in Peace.

Dear SGT Kenneth Lloyd Brown, 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