HONORED ON PANEL 46E, LINE 27 OF THE WALL
JOEL GARY ANDERS
WALL NAME
JOEL G ANDERS
PANEL / LINE
46E/27
DATE OF BIRTH
CASUALTY PROVINCE
DATE OF CASUALTY
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LEFT FOR JOEL GARY ANDERS
POSTED ON 10.5.2022
POSTED BY: [email protected]
Attack on FSB 14 - March 26, 1968
Operation MacArthur took place in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam during October 12, 1967 to January 31, 1969. The U.S. 4th Infantry Division had responsible for the defense of the provincial and district capitals along National Route QL-14, a paved road that ran north to south through the middle of the Central Highlands. Opposing the 4th Infantry Division was the North Vietnamese Army’s (NVA) B3 Front, a headquarters that controlled all the main force units in the provinces of Kontum, Pleiku, and Darlac, and the western portions of Binh Dinh and Phu Bon Provinces. In a direct challenge to the NVA, the Americans constructed Fire Support Base 14 eighteen miles west of Kontum City in Kontum Province, RVN. The outpost was established by the 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment to protect the Polei Kleng Special Forces Camp seven miles to the east. The base had no above ground structures and its occupants lived in dugout shelters. The perimeter was bounded by concertina wire, a tenuous obstacle to the determined NVA which occupied the hills surrounding FSB 14. Displeased with this development, at 3:30 AM on March 26, 1968, two battalions of the NVA’s 320th Regiment attacked the base. The enemy assaulted with small arms, automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades, 60mm mortars, and flame throwers. They were able to penetrate the northwestern portion of the perimeter, briefly occupying some bunkers. Two 1st Brigade companies returned fire while another counterattacked at the point of penetration, driving off the NVA and restoring the perimeter at 7:10 AM. Two other companies were airlifted into the contact area to set up blocking positions. Artillery and U.S. Air Force close air support hit NVA positions during the attack. Enemy losses were put at 135 dead against nineteen U.S. killed and fifty-one wounded. The lost U.S. personnel included SP4 Lonnie D. Alley, PFC Joel G. Anders, SP4 Gene T. Bailey, SP4 Benjamin J. Belarde (posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal), PFC Joseph M. Brown, PFC Robert E. Davis, SP5 Michael A. Fay, 1LT Steven H. Gerlach (posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal), PFC Dennis S. Gleason, 1LT James T. Gorsich, SP4 Charles L. Howe, PFC Willie Jackson, SP4 Leo J. Matylewicz, SP4 Cecil R. Millspaugh, PFC Maurice Moore, SP4 James M. Moser, PFC James A. Osterloth, SP4 Lawrence P. Pennel, and 2LT Harvey J. Tompkins. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “General 1969 MACV Monthly March Part 2” at ttu.edu]
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POSTED ON 4.7.2021
POSTED BY: john fabris
do not stand at my grave and weep
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
As long as you are remembered you will never truly die....
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
As long as you are remembered you will never truly die....
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POSTED ON 9.6.2019
POSTED BY: Dennis Wriston
I'm proud of our Vietnam Veterans
Private First Class Joel Gary Anders, Served with Company D, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.
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POSTED ON 9.19.2018
POSTED BY: BRYAN K HOLOMAN
HOME OF THE BRAVE
Although I did not know you, I honor your name. Although I did not know you, I honor your history. Although I did not know you, I honor your service, because without you, I would not be free. I was 7 years old when you honored your country with your life. I am now 58 years old, because you were a citizen of the Home of the Brave.
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