THE WALL OF FACES

Vietnamization was a policy of the Richard Nixon administration to end U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War through a program to expand, equip, and train South Vietnamese forces and assign to them an ever-increasing combat role, at the same time steadily reducing the number of U.S. combat troops. In June 1971, the program was in full swing in Thua Thien Province, RVN, where the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division closely coordinated with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 1st Infantry Division and local district officials. The missions provided a protective shield for the populated lowlands of the province by locating and destroying enemy forces, staging areas, and forward cache sites. At 11:17 AM on June 1st, members of 3rd Platoon, D Company, 2nd Battalion (Airmobile), 501st Infantry, were patrolling approximately three miles north of Firebase Boise when one of the troopers detonated a booby-trap. The device, consisting of a rocket-propelled grenade round rigged with a tripwire firing mechanism, killed one soldier, SP4 Robert D. McKinney, and critically injured another, 1LT Ralph L. Church. Church was medically evacuated to the U.S. Army Hospital at Camp Zama in Japan where he expired on June 12, 1971. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Operational Report – Lessons Learned, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), October 1971” at ttu.edu]

First Lieutenant Ralph Lee Church, Served with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, United States Army Vietnam.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever....

Dear Lt Ralph Church,
Thank you for your service as an Airborne Qualified Infantry Unit Commander. . Happy Thanksgiving. 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.

I served with Ralph Church we were both with Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol 1st Brigade 101st Airborne, we served together during 1967 and pulled several missions together.In the book Six Silent Men Book I He is mentioned on pages 114; 123;151 and other pages. Ralph was sometimes called Baby Huey because of his size. A big guy with a bigger heart. He was a good Lurp and a dear friend. RIP my brother