THE WALL OF FACES

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

On September 5, 1968, Recon Platoon from E Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, walked of LZ Buff, an Americal forward firebase southwest of Chu Lai in Quang Ngai Province, RVN, to conduct a search and destroy mission in Buff’s area of operations. Operating at full strength, the 27-man strong platoon lost two men to sniper fire on their first day, then settled in the evening on a small knoll outside of a village where they passed an uneventful night. The following day, they resumed their patrol. In the early afternoon, they exited a tree line to cross a dry rice paddy when the point element was taken under fire by an estimated battalion-sized force of North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong. The enemy, concealed in an adjacent tree line, opened up on the exposed recon platoon with small arms and automatic weapons. Pinned down in the open field, the Americans returned fire while suffering devastating casualties as the enemy raked them with gunfire and battered them with mortar rounds. Some were able to crawl back where a slight depression in the ground afforded them a degree of concealment. Air support was requested, and tactical strikes placed by jets and helicopter gunships along with artillery fire from an adjacent firebase pounded the tree line containing the hidden enemy. The battle continued through the day, and in the evening three recon members hiding behind a dike were rescued when a helicopter landed, the troopers discarding their weapons and equipment and sprinted aboard the aircraft. Contact ended when the enemy slipped away after dark. Eleven U.S. were killed in the engagement and another four were wounded. The lost Americans included CPL Marshall J. Brown, SP4 Terrance R. Hanson, SGT James C. Holmes, SGT Edward W. Secrest, PFC Barry R. Moree, PFC Hershel E. Morrow, PFC Jerry G. Richard, CPL Floyd L. Still, PFC Rayner E. Williams, PFC Donnie R. White, and SP4 Larry A. Jones. It wasn’t until after midnight that a reaction force from Bravo Company, 4/3, arrived and swept the area, rescuing the survivors and collected the dead. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, americal4ofthe3.com, and information provided by Jerry Drury and Russ Blais (July 2019)]

Dear Cpl Brown,
Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. It is important for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Dear CPL Marshall Jason 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

Marshall is buried at Prairie County Cemetery, Terry MT. PH