THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Paul Revere I (May 10 - July 31, 1966) was a 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division search and destroy border surveillance operation in the Chu Pong Mountain area of Pleiku Province, RVN. Third Brigade units made no significant contact throughout the first two weeks of operations; however, two U.S. Special Forces-led Civilian Irregular Defense Group companies made heavy contact with an estimated two North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Battalions five miles southwest of the Plei Djereng Special Forces Camp on May 24th. Heavy contact was again made on May 28th when a 3rd Brigade maneuver battalion (2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment) was ambushed by elements of the 33rd NVA Regiment as it air-assaulted into landing zone (LZ) 10 Alpha about five miles north of Due Co. The incoming assault helicopters were raked with fire from at least five 12.7mm antiaircraft machine guns, four of which were mounted in the trees a short distance northeast of the LZ. Before these guns could be knocked out by air strikes, four helicopters were shot down. A U.S. Air Force Forward Air Controller (FAC) dispatched to the scene guided a flight of F-4C Phantom II jets which expended their 500-pound bombs against the suspected locations of the enemy guns. The FAC’s continued air strikes with clearance from the Brigade Commander to hit anything within a 1500-meter radius of LZ 10 Alpha. A C-123 flareship dropped flares to keep the battlefield illuminated as action continued through the night into the next day. It was not until late on the night of May 29th that the enemy broke all contact and withdrew. During the next three days, 218 NVA bodies were found, and subsequent discoveries of enemy grave sites over the next month raised the final enemy toll to nearly 470 killed. Two NVA prisoners were taken during the 40-hour battle, and large quantities of arms and equipment were confiscated. American losses were 13 killed and 39 wounded. The lost U.S. personnel were (A-1/35) PFC John F. Barry, SGT Thomas D. Campbell, SP4 Charlie A. Carden, PFC Sheldon R. Cohen, PFC Billy R. Patrick, SGT Wallace E. Pilson, PFC Richard R. Roundtree, and PFC Walter J. Wetzel; (B-2/35) 2LT Michael T. Glynne, SGT William E. Humphrey (died of wounds 02/06/1980, added to the Wall in May 2004), PFC Leroy Robinson, and PFC Sylvester Swinford Jr.; and (HHC-2/35) SP5 Roy M. Jones. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Project CHECO: Operation Paul Revere/Sam Houston, 27 July 1967” at archive.com]

May those who served never be forgotten. Rest in peace SP4. Carden, I salute your brave soul. My heart goes out to you and your family.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. I am 72 and have lived a long and fulfilling life. It is tragic you never had that same opportunity. May you rest in eternal peace.

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

On the remembrance of your birthday, your sacrifice is not forogtten.

Forever 18.

HOOAH