THE WALL OF FACES

I was at the memorial for James Clarkson at FSB Libby giving a 21 gun salute to James. We had just returned from R&R from Australia. I have thought of James often

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

James was my roommate at North Georgia technical and voc school. He was a wonderful guy and friend. He was in the machine shop and I was in the automotive shop. 1967. I will never forget the day that I learned of his death. He was a great American. Rest in peace my friend.

In late November 1969, a combat engineer team from the 87th Engineer Company was tasked with repairing a bridge destroyed by the Viet Cong at a road junction near a rubber plantation which was due south of FSB Libby in Long Khanh Province, RVN. Attached to the Engineers was a security platoon of “Redcatchers” from 3rd Platoon, C Company, 5th Battalion, 12th Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade. The Engineers worked approximately a week on the project and remained on site with the Redcathers until the mission was completed. On December 1st, while returning to FSB Libby, their five-vehicle convoy was attacked by an unknown number of Viet Cong. The second vehicle, a Caterpillar D7 dozer, was hit and damaged by a Claymore mine packed with an estimated 40 lbs. of explosives. Its driver, engineer SP4 Freddie L. Long, and Redcatcher riding shotgun with a M60 machine gun, SGT James L. Clarkson, suffered fatal blast and fragmentation injuries in the explosion. The Americans engaged the enemy with .50 caliber and small arms fire, and after a fifteen-minute battle, the attackers withdrew in an unknown direction. The rest of the convoy was able to return to Libby except for the dozer which was secured by 1st Platoon, C 5/12. A few days later, a memorial service was conducted for Clarkson at Libby with empty boots, an M16 rifle with a bayonet in the ground, and a helmet on the rifle butt while taps was played. Long was memorialized about the same time in the chapel at Camp Frenzil Jones at Long Binh. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by John Rains (July 2004) at the wall-usa.com; also, information provided by Reid Mendenhall and Robin Santerre (February 2020)]

Dear Sgt James Clarkson,
Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Your 48th anniversary just passed, sigh. 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.