THE WALL OF FACES

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

Rich, we crossed paths in '67, working for Newsday ''Industrial Sales''... highly paid paperboys with cars. Every afternoon in Garden City you displayed your work ethic, your character, your sense of humor...a cool kid. Then one day, you told us you were leaving. Shortly, you left...and then, too soon, you were gone...and not coming back.In that short window of life, we could see you were memorable, impressive, special.
Our hearts will remember always ... that brave young MAN.

Private First Class Richard Thomas Chambers, Served with Company C, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

On December 18, 1968, the men of the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry “Manchus” constructed a patrol base camp nine and a half miles south of Tay Ninh City in Tay Ninh Province, RVN. In a single day, Company A, 65th Engineers, transformed 186,000 pounds of building materials hauled in by twenty-seven helicopter into a well-fortified position dubbed Patrol Base Mole City. Located in one of the most used infiltration routes in the III Corps, the enemy demonstrated their displeasure over the base by attacking it four days later. In the early morning hours of December 22, 1968, Mole City came under a massive ground assault by 1500 men of the 272nd Regiment of the 9th North Vietnamese Army Division. The attack began shortly after midnight with a fierce mortar, 75mm recoilless rifle, and RPG attack followed immediately by a heavy small arms and automatic weapons fire. The 500 U.S. defenders responded with unit weapons, and very soon after had air and artillery support. When inbound gunships from the 25th Aviation Battalion located fifteen minutes away at Cu Chi contacted the ground commander seeking a situation report, the reply was they were surrounded and in danger of being overrun. The battle continued for several hours, with the NVA penetrating the wire; however, once inside the trench line, they were picked off by Manchu marksmen. A human-wave attack was repulsed by the valiant Manchus by laying down a massive field of fire. So heavy was the volume of fire, that four M60 machine gun barrels melted down completely. The Manhcu's lowered their 105mm artillery tubes to chest-high level and were shooting beehive (fleshettes) rounds point blank. Near dawn the NVA pulled out. The battle claimed 106 enemy lives. Aviation units orbiting the battlefield in the morning light reported bodies were strewn everywhere, scattered about with a multitude of weapons, both personal and crew served. American losses were nineteen killed. They included SP4 Justin K. Anderson, SFC Richard G. Barnard, PFC Phillip E. Benjamin, PFC Donald G. Bousley, PFC Richard T. Chambers, SP4 Donald I. Culshaw, PFC Dennis L. Dulebohn, PFC Gary W. Everett, PFC Charles P. Glenn, SP4 Thomas L. Goodale, 1SG Manuel D. Madruga, PFC Henry E. Maul, SGT Michael A. Minko, SP4 Dionisio Sanchez-Ortiz, 1LT Ernest J. Stidham, SP4 Willie J. Tate, PFC Malcom R. True Jr., PFC Alfred Viel, and PFC Terry J. Ward. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, manchu.org, and information provided by Ron Leonard at vhpa.org]

Dear PFC Richard Chambers,
This is the month that we remember all those who have passed-on. We remember you. It is so important for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.