THE WALL OF FACES

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.

As your 72nd birthday approaches, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Forever 18.

HOOAH

At the conclusion of Operations Junction City I & II, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade was placed on standby as a reaction force on the landing strip at Long Binh Post, a U.S. Army base located in Long Binh ward between Bien Hoa and Saigon, RVN. On April 29, 1967, the battalion set up a perimeter along the runway and passed the first day filling sandbags and digging fighting holes. There was little activity along the perimeter, and the troopers mostly sought shelter from the oppressive sun under ponchos rigged as pup tents or in the sandbagged bunkers they created. After noon on the third day, May 1st, they were standing around their defensive positions when someone down the line yelled and others began firing their weapons into the tree line about a hundred yards away. Suddenly, several enemy fighters began firing back, causing the Americans to jump into their fighting holes. Down the line, men were heard to say, “Let’s get them!”, and troopers from Alpha and Charlie companies exited their holes and started advancing on line towards the enemy movement. The Weapons Platoon, set up just behind the infantrymen, began lobbing mortar rounds over their heads into the trees as they moved out across the open area. As the men entered the trees, they increased their rate of fire, and Weapons Platoon continued sending rounds just over the trees. The firing lasted about ten minutes, and then the men began returning in groups. One group was carrying a body. Those that remained behind exited their fight holes to see what happened. The dead man was PFC James V. Chronister from Charlie Company. He had been advancing into the trees with the others when one of Weapons Platoon’s rounds impacted nearby. A piece of shrapnel struck him in the neck. Despite the best efforts of the medics, he died after seven or eight minutes when they were unable to stem the bleeding. No enemy casualties were counted. The next day, the battalion was airlifted into War Zone D to begin search and destroy operations. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and the book “Blood on the Risers” by John Leppelman; also, information provided by Secundino R. Torres Jr. (August 2020)]

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.

The war may be forgotten but the warrior will always be remembered. All gave Some-Some gave All. Rest in peace Sky Soldier.