THE WALL OF FACES

Never forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. It is especially tragic that you had already qualified to go home but volunteered to stay a short time longer. Rest in eternal peace.

CPL Anthony Allen and LCPL Luther T. Stowe were riflemen serving with 1st Force Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division. On July 11, 1967, they were part of a patrol which made its way to an outpost on Hill 452 in Quang Nam Province, RVN. At approximately 6:15 PM, their position was struck by lightning, causing about ten M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel mines and at least ten M26 grenades to detonate. Both Allen and Stowe were killed in the blast, and another six Marines were wounded, two seriously. One of the Marines killed in the explosion was thrown over a cliff on the hilltop and had to be raised by hoist the following morning after a party rappelled down to recover the body. The Battalion S-3 operations officer arrived on scene and spent the night on the hill supervising the recovery of the body. He also confirmed that the explosion, which was initially thought to be the result of an enemy mortar attack, was caused by lightning. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

Corporal Anthony Allen, Served with the 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.