THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. While all deaths in Vietnam are tragic that you died two days short of your 20th birthday is especially so. Another life taken way too soon....

In the early morning hours of December 27, 1966, three North Vietnamese Army battalions of the 22nd Regiment used a two-day Christmas truce to move into position for a surprise attack on LZ Bird, an U.S. Army artillery base adjacent to the Kim Son River in Binh Dinh Province, RVN. LZ Bird was defended by only part of C Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, which was providing security for 1st Cavalry howitzers of B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 19th Artillery (105mm guns) and C Battery, 6th Battalion, 16th Artillery (155mm guns). The combined American strength at LZ Bird was 170 personnel. The NVA attack, estimated at 1000-man strong, began supported by mortar, recoilless-rifle, and machine gun fire. They broke through the perimeter and occupied some of the American gun positions. The 1st Cavalry soldiers fought back, with some of the fighting dissolving into hand-to-hand warfare. A number of the 105mm guns were cranked down to pointblank range, and "beehive" rounds sliced through the attackers like scythes, effectively stopping the assault in it tracks. This and armed CH-47 Chinook helicopter gunship support stalled the NVA momentum, and they began to withdraw. One account of enemy dead was assessed at a total of 211 NVA killed (body count) in and around the LZ. The American losses were 28 killed and 67 wounded. The lost Americans at LZ Bird included from C Company: SP4 Freddie L. Burnette, PFC Alfred L. Davis, PFC Hubert A. Erwin, SP4 Gregory J. Fischer, PFC Howard S. Goldberg, PFC Armand R. Graham, PFC Randall L. Hixson, SFC Paul G. Jackson, SP4 James E. Nunley, SP4 Gary W. Peasley, PFC Jerry E. Schmeltz, SP4 Ronald J. Sheehy, SGT Hugh G. Skipper, 1LT Jerald D. Wallace, and SP4 Larry J. Willis; from B Battery: PFC Samuel Q. Asher, PFC Anthony C. Coffaro, CPL Ronald R. Conn, PFC Richard A. Knaus, PFC Donald H. Lederhaus, SGT Daniel L. Miracle, and SSG Rodney D. Staton; from C Battery: PFC Ronnie E. Norris, PFC Roger D. White, CPL Roscoe Wright Jr., and PFC Ronald J. Zitiello; and 11th Aviation Group helicopter crewmen SP4 Robert J. Hardesty and CPL Robert D. Lajko. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, 12thcav.us, pownetwork.org, and wikipedia.org]

WE came from the same neighborhood and went to Vietnam the same year. I remember when you would come by my house to visit. We were just teenagers, to young for war and much to young to die.

Specialist Four Freddie Lee Burnette, Served with Company C, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.

Dear Spec 4 Freddie Burnette,
Thank you for your service as an Airborne Qualified Indirect Fire Infantryman with the 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry. I hate that you died 2 days before your birthday. sigh. 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.