THE WALL OF FACES

He was a good Puritan Angels Friend in the 60’s. I think of him often and will always remember him and him driving his Olive Drab Painted Mis-Spelled U. S. MARNIES personal Chevy vehicle fondly. R.I.P. My dear friend & fellow veteran.

It was Good Friday. You and your 2 battery mates gave your lives manning your gun under intense enemy mortar and recoilless rifle fire. I was on an unauthorized radio net talking to a buddy at COC, Division HQ. I got the Spooky there as fast as possible, but not fast enough to save you. Thank you for your bravery. Semper Fi, brother.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your sister Louise is touching. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

Operation Desoto was a U.S. Marine Corps operation that took place in Duc Pho District in Quang Tin Province, RVN, between January 27 and April 7, 1967. The plan was for the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines to assume the defense of Duc Pho District from the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), which instead would concentrate on pacification. On the first day of the operation, Marine helicopters lifted Company L, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines and four 105mm howitzers and crews of Battery I, 12th Marines to Nui Dang and Nui Dau, two prominent hills adjacent to Duc Pho, where they established a base camp with a Command Post (CP) and Logistic Support Area (LSA). During the next months, 3rd Battalion conducted daily company- and platoon-sized search and destroy missions from these positions, forcing the Viet Cong (VC) to abandon attempts to defend nearby hamlets. In early morning of March 24th, the VC attacked the CP and LSA, launching an estimated 250 rounds of 60mm and 82mm mortar and 57mm and 75mm recoilless rifle fire at the base. The Marines responded within minutes with counter-mortar and counter-battery fire on previously designated coordinates where muzzle flashes were being observed. The VC answered by firing some seventy rounds into the artillery revetments, scoring direct hits on two Marine guns. Three personnel were killed and another fourteen were wounded. The lost Battery I Marines included PFC Peter G. Cody, PFC Christian J. Eckerdt Jr., and CPL Gary L. Prekker. The VC also hit the Tactical Fuel Dispensing System in the LSA, igniting mogas and aviation gas and destroying a 70,000-gallon fuel dump. The besieged Marines received help from fixed-wing and nearby artillery which were directed on Viet Cong firing positions and escape routes after the attack. A search of VC firing positions was made later in the day which uncovered thirty-six 75mm recoilless rifle (RR) cannisters and firing positions for both RR and 82mm mortars were found. Information later gained from Provincial Reconnaissance Units indicated that the VC were armed with automatic weapons, local villagers had been forced to bear arms, and twelve RR were used in the attack. Discovered Viet Cong firing positions indicated that the attack was probably conducted by the 95th Battalion of the 2nd Viet Cong Regiment which was operating in the nearby area. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, wikipedia.org, and Command Chronology, 3rd Battalion 7th Marines, March 1967 at ttu.edu]

Dear PFC Peter Cody,
Thank you for your service as a Field Artillery Cannoneer. December is here, along with all the preparations. It is almost Christmas. 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.