THE WALL OF FACES

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

The 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment (1-1 Cavalry) was sent to Vietnam in August 1967. A heavy armored cavalry regiment made up of tracked vehicles, 1-1 Cavalry conducted combat operations in the I Corps area during the four years it was deployed. In early 1971, the unit was operating in the Chu Lai area while assigned to the Americal Division. In February, 1-1 Cavalry was detached from Americal and sent by ship to Quang Tri to take part in operation Lam Son 719, a campaign conducted by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) to disrupt the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the North Vietnamese Army’s (NVA) logistical system within the Kingdom of Laos. The unit proceeded to Khe Sanh Combat Base (KSCB) where its rear elements remained while three troops of 1-1 Cavalry were sent forward to the border with Laos. During this period, KSCB came under periodic artillery and rocket attack by NVA units across the border and north of the base. On March 6, 1971, such an attack was launched against the base. Slit trenches (fox holes) were occupied by the men of C Troop during the bombardment. After a pause in the barrage, three members of C Troop, believing the attack was over, climbed out of their protected position. The NVA fired one last salvo, a standard artillery tactic used to catch the enemy in the open. The round impacted near the men, killing SP5 Stephen W. Burgdorfer and SP4 Horace L. Burton, and critically wounding SGT Thomas Valerio. Valerio was flown to the navy hospital ship USS Sanctuary (AH-17) where he expired the following day. When Lam Son concluded, 1-1 Cavalry conducted a memorial service for those troopers lost during the operation. Burgdorfer, Burton, and Valerio were remembered during the ceremony performed by the Squadron Commander and Chaplain. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Carl Wronko (September 2021); image courtesy of Carl Wronko]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. It saddens me so few have posted remembrances for you...surely you deserve better. Rest in eternal peace.

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

I am so glad that a picture of you was found and posted here. I was XO of C Troop, 1st Squadron 1st Armored Cavalry Troop and Horace worked in our motor pool and drove me around. I met a nurse in Vietnam who I later married - Horace cleaned and shined up that jeep I drove whenever I went out on a date - it looked better than the one the general had! Horace I have never forgotten you as well as the Troopers you were with at Khe Son when you all passed to eternal life with the lord. God bless and keep you until we meet again. LT.