THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Billings (June 12 – 26, 1967) was planned and conducted by the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division to destroy elements of the 9th People’s Liberation Armed Forces Division which occupied base camp areas north of Phuoc Vinh in Binh Duong Province, RVN. The operation called for two brigades to conduct search and destroy missions north of Phuoc Vinh Base Camp. On June 12, 1967, three battalions, under 1st Brigade control, inserted into two landing zones (LZ’s) about five miles north of the city. Concurrently, the 3rd Brigade inserted the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry “Black Lions” into a LZ at Chi Linh to secure a fire support base there. The following day, the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry inserted into LZ Rufe, ten miles due north of Phuoc Vinh. Later that day, the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry moved from Chi Linh into LZ Rufe as well. The two battalions secured the area around Rufe and dug in for the night. On the morning of June 14th, B and C Companies of 1/16 Infantry moved out to the west of Rufe to seek out the enemy. Just after noon, troops from C Company spotted five Viet Cong (VC) soldiers about a mile southwest of the LZ but was not able to engage them. Two hours later, B Company received sporadic small arms fire about half a mile north of C Company. The firing was brief, then tapered off, seeming to indicate that the enemy had broken contact. Fifteen minutes later, however, B Company was struck in full force in the front and flanks by a VC battalion. The company commander frantically brought artillery and air strikes to bear as the battalion commander ordered C Company to move to B Company’s aid. The fighting was desperate as B Company repulsed the VC assaults. By the time C Company arrived at the battle site around 6:00 PM, B Company had beat back the VC but suffered six killed and fifteen wounded. The lost personnel included 2LT Robert R. Roush, SSG Robert E. Thompson (posthumously awarded the Bronze Star medal), SP4 Glendon R. Barnett, (posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal), SP4 Richard G. Brown, SP4 Richard A. Cable, and SP4 Frank A. Giacobello Jr. A search of the area before dark revealed sixty-two enemy dead. [Taken from virtualwall.org and 16thinfassn.org]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your fellow soldier Phil Garcia is moving. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us...

Specialist Four Richard Gordon Brown, Served with Company B, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

“Brown, as he was called was quiet with a powerful strength. He machine gunner on the day he met his maker. We were ambushed after returning from a Glover. Leaf patrol and scrambled into a B 52 crater. Brown immediately lay cover fire which helped our squads organize for the few hour battle. Like so many he had a premonition he would die and asked me to contact his mother, I did and she shared she could still see walking up the path to there home.. He missed and though of daily . Phil Garcia company B 1/16,

Dear Spec 4 Richard 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.