THE WALL OF FACES

Private First Class Jerry Cape, Served with Company A, 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

At 8:30 AM on April 25, 1967, a U.S. Marine 11th Engineer Battalion “Rough Rider” convoy from Dong Ha headed to Khe Sanh in Quang Tri Province, RVN, was ambushed on National Route QL-9 seven kilometers (4.3 miles) southwest of Ca Lu Airfield. The enemy force was concealed in positions north of the roadway along a bend. The first vehicle, a dump truck pulling a trailer, was mined. The right front tire was blown, causing it to go out of control. Simultaneously, it was hit by two 72mm recoilless rifle rounds. Two hundred meters behind, a U.S. Army M42 40mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun "Duster" supporting the convoy moved up to the ambush site. When approximately 25 meters from the point of contact, it received heavy automatic, small arms, mortars, and grenade fire. Enemy combatants then entered QL-9 from the north side and threw an estimated one-gallon-sized satchel charge filled with explosives at the Duster, knocking it out of action. With the convoy halted, the Engineers dismounted and took up defensive positions along the south side of the highway. At about the same time, a Marine road sweep team preceding the Rough Rider convoy was ambushed when a M37 3⁄4-ton personnel carrier truck hit a mine. It was also hit by mortar and small arms fire, the multiple blasts destroying the vehicle. A reaction force including two Dusters and two infantry squads responded to the convoy ambush. The enemy withdrew, and the Marines organized their casualties, evacuating the most seriously injured by aircraft. Non-serious were sent on with the convoy to Khe Sanh. Three Marine engineers and three Army Duster crewmen were killed in the attack; twenty-three other Marines were wounded. The lost personnel included (from A Co, 11th Engineer Bn) PFC Jerry Cape, PFC Wayne J. Gautz, and LCPL Leonard H. Smith; and (C Btry, 1st Bn, 44th Arty) PFC Joshua A. Atkins III (died of wounds 04/26/1967), SGT Joseph E. Royster, and SP4 Leonard D. Thompson. Several destroyed vehicles were trailered back to Dong Ha. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Beryl “Gene” Riley Jr. (February 2023)]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from fellow marine Robert Thomas is moving. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever…..

Jerry and I became great friends from the time we met. On the ship on the way to VietNam we became very close and were in the same unit in the country. I was off on a different mission while Jerry and another good friend went on their fatal mission.
Upon my return to our basecamp I learned of their demise. It had a huge effect on me as I suffered from the loss of two very good friends. I have never forgotten our friendship and have kept a small item as a token of our friendship. To this day I still feel the pain of his loss.

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.