THE WALL OF FACES

During the last quarter of 1966, the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) operated in a 100 square-mile area in Binh Dinh, Pleiku, Kontum, Darlac, and Phu Yen Provinces. Division operations extended from the South China Sea to the Cambodian Border along the axis of National Route QL-19, and from Bong Son to Tuy Hoa along the coast. Operations were characterized by heavy reliance on air mobility and were largely search and destroy missions or pacification of areas previously controlled by the Viet Cong. Troopers who were stationed along the coast frequently entered the waters of the South China Sea while off duty to recreate and cool down under the hot tropical sun. The surf occasionally attracted those who were on duty, as was the case on November 4, 1966, when a cavalryman from C Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, went missing while supposedly on perimeter guard duty at LZ Strip, seven kilometers (4.3 miles) northeast of An My village. PFC Wallace A. Abbott’s clothes were found on the beach, but he was nowhere to be seen. His body was located the following day washed up on the beach two miles from LZ Strip. During postmortem studies, Army medical examiners noted Abbott had sustained severe trauma to his head. It was initially unclear to investigators if his death was the result of hostile action; however, following further investigation, it was learned he went swimming at about 2:30 PM on November 4th and got caught in a strong current and swept out to sea. Two others with Abbott were unsuccessful in trying to rescue him. A 19-year-old draftee from Tennessee, he had been in Vietnam less than a month. [Sourced at coffeltdatabase.org and “Operational Report on Lessons Learned for Period 1 November 1966 thru 31 January 1967, Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)” at archive.com]

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

Private First Class Wallace Adrion Abbott, Served with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

Correction - 44th anniversary.