THE WALL OF FACES

On the evening of January 2, 1970, B Company,4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry, Americal Division, was in a night defensive posture on Hill 285, eight miles east of Duc Pho in Quang Ngai Province, RVN. The company was combat assaulted to the hill earlier that morning to secure it as a fire base in support of Operation Iron Mountain. The company organized its defenses, and by dark had completed its preparations with sand bags, earthen berms, Claymore mines, and trip flares. Adverse weather prevented resupply helicopters from bringing in additional defensive material. As the sun set, the company’s field strength was 118 men and officers, including three 81mm mortar tubes. Without any warning, at approximately 11:45 PM the American position received about sixty rounds of mixed 60mm and 82mm mortar fire along with heavy small arms and automatic weapons fire. This was followed by a ground attack by an estimated reinforced North Vietnamese Army (NVA) sapper company from the north and northwest. Unbeknownst to the Americans, the enemy had moved by stealth in three platoon-sized elements up the brush-covered draws on the west side of the Hill 285, silently cut the Claymore wires, then opening fire with AK-50’s, B-40 rockets, and Chicom grenades. The defenders returned fire with unit weapons and received support from helicopter gunships and artillery. The southernmost attacking groups, including the NVA commander and his three-man command group, were cut down by heavy M16 and M79 fire. The U.S. artillery forward observer attached to B Company was killed when he moved against six sappers who succeeded in permeating the perimeter on the north side. A quick reaction by a B Company platoon leader and his radioman eliminated this threat. By 3:50 AM, the NVA began to withdraw, dragging away their dead and wounded. U.S. losses were seven killed and twelve wounded. The lost Americans included infantrymen PFC Tanner M. Brown Jr., PFC Raul Garcia Jr., PFC Dallas R. Snodgrass, SP4 Joseph M. D'Angelico, PFC Steven L. Green, and medic SP4 Frank M. Dunsmore Jr.; also lost was 2LT Robert C. Wright, the forward artillery observer from A-6/11 Arty. Brown, Garcia, and Snodgrass were posthumously promoted to Corporal. Sweeps of the area at dawn yielded twenty-nine dead NVA and twelve individual weapons and one crew-served weapon captured. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Operational Report—Lessons Learned, Americal Division, Period Ending 31 January 1970” at archive.org]

I can’t believe I have found this! A great pic. My last memory of you Tanner is you and my sister taking me horseback riding. The horse got back to the barn about an hour before I did . You and Peggy had a great day…,..I haven’t ridden a horse again. But the memories of your smile and laughter that day is never to be forgotten fly with the angels. You earned your wings!

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir.The remembrances from Bill Johnston are especially moving. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

Dear Cpl Tanner 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.

Tanner was the love of my life! He was a wonderful father to my son, and a wonderful man! I still think of him often and wonder what could have been! We were engaged to be married, but sadly, never given the chance. I think about how my (our) lives might have unfolded, children, grandchildren. I know we would have been happily married , but God had other plans for him. He needed another "angel" in heaven and he is watching over us, I know! He was the kindest, most gentle, loving, giving man I have ever known. I will love him forever and will be with him when it is my time to go and be with him.