THE WALL OF FACES

As your 70th birthday approaches, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

David and I became friends when he joined our company in Vietnam. We lived just 30 miles apart, he in Marion, I in Mansfield. Our friendship was quick and easy. He was a great friend and it was my privilege to escort his body back to Marion where he was laid to rest. A big thank you to David's family for allowing me that honor.

Operation Toan Thang 44 was a combined 1st and 2nd Brigades, 25th Infantry Division, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and ARVN Airborne Division operation against North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Base Areas 353, 354, and 707 in Cambodia conducted between May 6-14, 1970. On May 8th, the 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry of the 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, conducted airmobile operations in the Parrott’s Beak, a salient in southeast Cambodia that protrudes into Vietnam and served as a base and rest area for the NVA and the Vietcong. Significant ground contacts occurred at 1:52 PM and 2:30 PM in an area 800 meters south of Chantrea in the Parrot's Beak when Companies A, B, and D, 6-31 Infantry, engaged an unknown number of enemy resulting in seven enemy killed. U.S. casualties in the engagements were five killed and nine wounded. The fighting began after the lead elements of Company D entered Chantrea when heavy enemy fire forced the unit back with the loss of one American and one Kit Carson Scout wounded. Company B, entering the city from the south, was also repulsed with the loss of four U.S. killed and eight wounded due to heavy automatic weapons, small arms, and mortar fire. C Company attempted to penetrate the city’s northeastern edge, but it too was forced to withdraw after suffering two U.S. wounded. The city was then pounded throughout the remainder of the day and following night by ten USAF tactical air strikes and continuous helicopter gunship strikes. On the morning of May 9th, four more attempts to enter the city by Companies A and D were repulsed and again the city was hammered day and night by continuous air and artillery strikes. On the morning of May 10th, the city was assaulted by Companies A, B, and D and taken with no resistance. A Hoi Chanh (enemy defector), captured on the morning of May 9th by A/6-31, revealed the size of the enemy force to be 200 men. The lost D Company soldier was PFC John D. Lonsdale, a forward observer from D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery, who was embedded with D Company. The lost B Company personnel were SP4 David A. Butcher, SGT James M. Davis, PFC Michael L. McPherson, and PFC Phillip J. Smith. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and Lessons Learned, Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division for the period ending July 1970]

Dear Spec 4 David Butcher,
Thank you for your service as an Indirect Fire Infantryman. As another summer comes to an end, 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.

Dear SP4 David Austin Butcher, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter