THE WALL OF FACES

Casey, what a great guy you were. Such a good friend. One of the hardest things I had to do was write Robert, your best friend, that you had died in action. Thank you for being our best man. Thank you for your love of the Corp and for America.

At the beginning of 1966, LTC Robert T. Hanflin Jr. was the commander of 2nd Battalion (Reinforced), 1st Marines based at Phu Bai Airfield in Thua Thien Province. On February 27, 1966, he received a call for assistance from General Chuan, senior officer of 1st Battalion, 3rd ARVN Regiment. Chuan’s forces, plus a small group of Popular Force and Regional Force Troops, had engaged the 810th Viet Cong Battalion on the supposedly pacified nearby Phu Thu Peninsula. At 2100 hours, Hanflin ordered a night helicopter landing to relieve pressure on the South Vietnamese Battalion. HMM-163 landed three infantry companies of Task Force Hotel into landing zones just north of the peninsula. The following day, supported by the Marine artillery at Phu Bai, Companies F, G, and K advanced abreast toward the southeast. The South Vietnamese provided a blocking force while the Marine companies made a frontal assault against the well-prepared Viet Cong defenses. After bitter fighting, the VC broke contact and withdraw in small disorganized groups. The Marines continued the cleanup phase of the operation, meeting occasional enemy resistance, until March 3rd. The one-week Task Unit Hotel operation, also called New York, killed 120 of the enemy, captured 7 more, and seized 69 weapons. The Marines suffered casualties of 17 dead and 37 wounded. The 17 men were PFC Roger D. Bulifant, CPL Henry C. Casebolt, PFC Warren L. Christensen, LCPL William P. Foran, PFC William A. Fuchs, CPL Charles Johnson, PFC James B. Laird, LCPL Larry E. MacDonald, SSGT Edward J. McCarthy, LCPL Andy McGuire, LCPL Mark L. Morgan, PFC Miguel E. Naranjo, PFC Richard F. Nugent, LCPL Arthur C. Pederson, PFC Darrell T. Ray, PFC Jose Torres, and PFC James R. McLemore. [Taken from virtualwall.org and “U.S. Marines In Vietnam: An Expanding War 1966.” marines.mil]

Reading the citation tells you the greatness of this Marine.

I remember you bouncing me on your knee and wrestling with me. I'm almost 57 years old now and still remember the Marines coming to the door of the house I live at now to tell us you past. Love you and miss you Uncle Sonny. Thank you for giving your life for us.

Semper Fi, Corporal.