THE WALL OF FACES

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

As long as you are remembered you will never truly die.

Rodney Eugene Althoff

DATE OF BIRTH: October 24, 1946
PLACE OF BIRTH:
York, Pennsylvania
HOME OF RECORD:
York, Pennsylvania


Silver Star
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Army
Rank: Specialist Fourth Class
Battalion: 2d Battalion
Division: 25th Infantry Division
GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 1678 (December 1, 1966)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Specialist Fourth Class Rodney Eugene Althoff , United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Specialist Althoff distinguished himself by heroic actions on 4 November 1966, in the Republic of Vietnam. He was attached to Company C as a Platoon Medic on a search and destroy mission in the dense jungles near Dau Tieng, Republic of Vietnam. As the company moved through the thick jungle underbrush, they received heavy machine gun and automatic weapons fire, and a heavy grenade barrage. Several men were wounded, one of which was Specialist Althoff, who has hit by fragments from an enemy grenade. Refusing to leave the hostile fire zone, and disregarding his own wounds, he moved from man to man, giving them aid and reassurance. While in the process of giving aid to his wounded comrades, Specialist Althoff was wounded a second time from small arms fire, which caused his death. His bravery and complete disregard for his own safety resulted in the saving of lives and the receiving of professional medical aid by the wounded men in his area. Specialist Althoff's aggressiveness, devotion to duty, and unimpeachable valor reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, the 25th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
See https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/100838

Specialist Four Rodney Eugene Althoff, Served with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

You were one of the brave that answered the call. You honored us by your service and sacrifice. We now honor you each time we stand and sing the words “THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE”. Rest in Peace and Honor Rodney.

At the beginning of November 1966, operations near the "Black Virgin" Mountain were uncovering very large NVA/VC supply caches. Because the NVA/VC could not afford to lose the supplies, they were forced to fight - and fight they did, beginning with heavy action near Dau Tieng starting on 03 Nov 1966, when 13 US soldiers died in the fighting. It continued on 04 November, with 11 US infantry companies in the field, supported by air and artillery as well as ARVN infantry. By day's end, the NVA/VC commanders realized they could not protect their supply caches and began a withdrawal toward the Cambodian border. Seventeen more US soldiers died in the fighting on 04 Nov 1966:
2nd Bn, 1st Infantry
SSG John P. Frankel, Santa Clara, CA, C Co
SGT Edward J. Merritt, Philadelphia, PA, B Co
SGT Howard L. Walker, Boomer, NC, C Co
PFC Carmen P. Cartonia, Buffalo, NY, C Co

1st Bn, 27th Infantry
SGT John D. Beltz, St Louis, MO, A Co
SP4 Eugene F. Goeckner, Dieterich, IL, A Co
PFC Bruce E. Kerndl, Miller Place, NY, A Co

2nd Bn, 27th Infantry
LTC William C. Barott, Philadelphia, PA, HQ Co (Silver Star)
CPT Gerald F. Currier, Lawrence, MA, C Co
2LT Robert L. Adams, Carlisle, PA, C Co
SGT Howard C. Barker, Madison, FL, C Co
SP4 Rodney E. Althoff, York, PA, HQ Co (Silver Star)
SP4 Aaron L. Thomas, Philadelphia, PA, A Co
PFC Lawrence E. Besson, Alexandria, LA, C Co
PFC Luis A. Perez-Cruz, Arecibo, PR
PVT Jose L. Fontanez-Velez, Rio Piedras, PR, C Co
PVT Bobby Young, Viper, KY