THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

Fire Support Base Jaeger was built in the middle of an open field in the Mekong Delta, about 40 miles southwest of Saigon. The base was a temporary home for four 155 mm howitzers (B Battery, 1st Battalion, 84th Artillery) providing security for Highway QL-4, the lifeline upon which rice was transported from the delta to Saigon and further north. Jaeger was approximately one acre in size, surrounded by coils of barbed wire and machine gun-mounted armored personnel carriers (APC’s) positioned about 25 yards apart. There were tree lines about 1000 feet to the north and west of the base. Approximately 200 Americans were on FSB Jaeger, 80 assigned to the artillery unit, and 120 with the infantry company (Company C, 5th Battalion,60th Infantry) providing security for the big guns. On February 25, 1968, at 1:45 AM, Jaeger was assaulted by the 263rd Viet Cong Battalion. The VC initiated the attack with a barrage of rocket-propelled grenades (RPG-2 and RPG-7), combined with small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire followed by a heavy ground assault. The enemy attempted to breach the perimeter on the southwest and northwest with Bangalore torpedoes and turtle mines. Artillery, Light Fire Teams (helicopter gunships), and airstrikes supported the besieged Americans at Jaeger. The VC partially penetrated the perimeter where the artillery battery was located but were driven back by a large volume of friendly fire. The enemy broke contact when U.S. reinforcements arrived. Twenty Americans were killed defending Jaeger and sixty-eight wounded. The lost U.S. personnel were SP4 Stanley O. Jackson, PFC Earl E. Parker, SP4 Joe H. Brown, CPL Ronnie L. Clark, CPL Larry A. De la Rosa, CPL Dennis E. Lane, PFC William L. Newsome, SGT Robert L. Simmons, SP4 James C. Blout, CPL Manuelito L. Herrera, PFC Leslie R. Lewis, PFC Richard B. McDaniel, CPT Daniel R. Schueren, SP4 Edward Singleton, CPL George D. Whitelaw, PFC Frederick T. Williams, CPL Maxie E Ackerman, 2LT Gordon K. Hughes, PFC Gearwin P. Tousey, CPL Richard M. Scala, PFC Michael D. Sheahan, and SP4 Michael C. Zeller. Nine of the twenty-five APC’s were destroyed and two 155mm howitzers damaged. One hundred and five of the enemy were killed. Their remain were bulldozed into a massive grave near the firebase. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Fire Support Base Jaeger” at ttu.edu]

Dear Cpl Ronnie Clark,
Thank you for your service as a Pioneer. December has begun, along with all the preparations. 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.

Dear CPL Ronnie Lee Clark, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

FIRE SUPPORT BASE JAEGER

near Cai Lay

Stars and Stripes

Feb 27th 1968



Fighting from behind a wagon train circle made of armored vehicles, U.S. infantrymen of the 5th Bn (Mech) 60th Inf stood off an attack by 500 hundred Viet Cong who tried to overrun their patrol base and seize heavy artillery, thus blocking the rice life line between Saigon and the Mekong Delta. The pre-dawn battle at Fire Support Base Jaeger took place 42 miles southwest of Saigon, lasting 4 and a half hours.

The enemy attack wilted under counterattacks from infantry reinforcements, helicopter gun ships and outside artillery. But U.S. losses were heavy and damage to the base was extensive.



American losses were 20 killed and 70 wounded. Among the dead was the patrol base commander.



The U.S. command reported 100 Viet Cong killed in the assault on the 200 man patrol base of the 9th Infantry Division, the unit charged with keeping open Highway 4 which carries rice and other essential goods to the capitol of Saigon.



About 60 of the Viet Cong penetrated the base's western perimeter and managed for a while to take over a 155mm artillery piece. Heavy American counter fire drove the enemy away before they could turn it on the defenders or haul it away.



In the enemy's covering mortar and rocket fire 11 armored vehicles were destroyed.



The attack began shortly after midnight with a Communist feint from the east. Then the main attack came from the west.



Field dispatches said the 16 armored vehicles drew into a circle around the 4 artillery pieces to stand off a human wave attack by the Viet Cong, when they had blasted their way through barbed wire on the western perimeter with Bangalore torpedoes.



Spec 4 Ralph Hirshler of Lamar, Colorado manned a .50 caliber machine gun on an armored vehicle. "They just kept coming over the rice paddy dikes and I kept heaving lead at them," he said. "I must have fired 1000 rounds in 10 minutes."



One of the attackers killed the company commander and Lt. Stanley Nowach, of St. Louis, a Forward Observer, took command.



The fight was touched off when the U.S. company spotted 12 Viet Cong moving toward the perimeter from the east shortly after midnight. The American troops opened up with machine gun fire and sent out four armored personnel carriers to sweep the area. The lead carrier was hit by rocket fire. Then the Viet Cong opened up from the southwest and northwest, then sent the bulk of its force storming into the western perimeter. Recon Platoon tried to break through to the encircled company but was attacked en route. Four of the armored personnel carriers of Recon Platoon finally drove through along with another infantry company.



"It was obviously coordinated to overrun the four artillery guns," an officer said.





The battle actually cost 22 American lives:



B Co, 15th Eng Bn:

SGT Robert L. Simmons, Ridgeway, SC

SP4 Joe H. Brown, Jackson, MS

CPL Ronnie L. Clark, Hugoton, KS

CPL Larry A. De La Rosa, Baldwin Park, CA

CPL Dennis E. Lane, Wilton, CA

PFC William L. Newsome, New Rochelle, NY





A Btry, 1st Bn, 11th Arty Rgt:

SP4 Stanley O. Johnson, Cincinnati, OH





B Co, 5th Bn, 60th Inf Rgt:

CPT Daniel R. Schueren, Arlington Heights, IL

SP4 James C. Blount, Columbus, GA

SP4 Edward Singleton, Baltimore, MD

PFC Richard B. Mc Daniel, San Mateo, CA





C Co, 5th Bn, 60th Inf Rgt:

CPL Maxie E. Ackerman, Saginaw, MI

CPL Manuelito L. Herrera, Manassa, CO

CPL Richard M. Scala, New York, NY

CPL George D. Whitelaw, East Detroit, MI

PFC Leslie R. Lewis, Chicago, IL

PFC Gearwin P. Tousey, Green Bay, WI

PFC Frederick T. Williams, New York, NY





HHC, 5th Bn, 60th Inf Rgt:

2LT Gordon K. Hughes, Upper Sandusky, OH

SP4 Michael C. Zeller, Wamego, KS

PFC Michael D. Sheahan, Tujunga, CA





B Btry, 1st Bn, 84th Arty Rgt:

PFC Earl E. Parker, Portsmouth, VA