THE WALL OF FACES

Fire Support Bases Neville and Russell were U.S. Marine Corps bases west of Cam Lo in Quang Tri Province, RVN, with Neville the westernmost of the two. In late February 1969, Neville was occupied by Golf Battery 3/12 with Hotel Company, 2/4 as a security force. Five miles to the east, FSB Russell had Hotel and Mortar Battery, 3/12, and elements of 2/4 as a security force, primarily Echo 2/4, but also elements of H&S Company. In the early morning hours of February 25, 1969, both bases were hit hard by NVA sappers—about 200 from the 246th NVA Regiment at Neville, and an equal number from the 27th NVA Regiment at Russell. In each case, the attacks began with heavy mortar fire and supporting artillery fire from within the DMZ, followed by a ground attack clearly intended to destroy the artillery pieces in their gun pits. In both instances, the enemy partially overran the base, and in each case the Marines drove them out again. When the sun rose, the Marines had over three dozen dead and 100+ wounded, while there were 61 enemy bodies inside the two perimeters, but the guns sustained no serious damage and were firing. The 13 Americans killed at FSB Neville were HM2 Walter P. Seel Jr. (posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal), CPL Jeffrey M. Barron (Silver Star), LCPL Thomas H. McGrath, (Silver Star), CPL Gerald D. Zawadzki, LCPL Steven V. Garcia, PFC Raymond L. Flint, PFC Walter L. Lamarr, PFC Samuel C. Macon, PFC David A. Mallory, PFC Royce E. Roe, PFC Carey W. Smith, PFC Willie F. Smith, and PFC Michael L. Zappia. There were 27 Marines and 3 Navy corpsmen killed at FSB Russell; 18 were infantrymen from 2/4, and 9 were artillerymen from 3/12. The three Navymen included HM3 John M. Sullivan, HM2 Kenneth Davis, and HN Donald K. Walsh. The lost Marines were PFC Robert H. Brogan, PFC Robert A. Coffey, PFC Odell Dickens, PFC Douglas B. Forsberg, PFC Juan Gaston, LCPL Kenneth R. Gilliam, PVT Michael A. Harvey, 2LT William H. Hunt, PFC Michael L. Jenkins, LCPL Norman W. Kellum, LCPL Donald R. Lewis, LCPL Larry W. Liss, LCPL James D. Logan, PFC Robert A. McCarthy, CPL Tommy N. Miller, PFC James D. Peschel, LCPL Gerald Przybylinski, PFC Randolph R. Ramsey, PFC David L. Rutgers, LCPL Bruce A Saunders, PFC Allen M. Sharp, LCPL Larry J. Sikorski, PFC Norman R. Surprenant, PFC Robert H. Trail III, PFC James E. Tucker, and PFC George W. Weldy Jr. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and virtualwall.org]

Private First Class Robert Allen Coffey, Served with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

Dear PFC Robert Allen Coffey, 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

This is his boot camp photo from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Platoon 2042. He earned the title 'U.S. Marine' on September 18, 1968.

Thank you for your service to our great nation, my brother.

He loved life and he loved his country, marines, God and family. He was a big joker. He loved to play jokes on people. His nickname was Israel. He did not like school but loved the extra stuff that went on, the socializing was great