THE WALL OF FACES

Staff Sergeant Darrell Eugene Anderson, Served with Mobile Advisory Team IV-49, Advisory Team 71, Headquarters, Military Assistance Command Vietnam Advisors, Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV).

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....

SSG Gerasimo Arroyo-Baez, 1LT Richard L. Bowers, SSG Darrell E. Anderson, and SSG Jimmy G. Freeman were members of Mobile Advisory Team IV-49 (MAT IV-49), a MACV advisor group attached to an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) unit based at Tam Soc in Ba Xugen Province, RVN. Early on the morning of March 24, 1969, the base personnel were awoken to find the unit under attack by what was estimated to be a battalion-sized Viet Cong force with a heavy weapons section using mortars, automatic weapons, small arms and B-40 rockets. Bowers was heard on the radio calling for help when the radio went dead. A relief force was sent out to help. When it arrived, all the Vietnamese defenders of Tam Soc Operations Base were found dead, along advisors Anderson and Freeman. Bowers and Arroyo-Baez were not located. A Vietnamese civilian who had been captured and later escaped stated that Bowers and Arroyo-Baez had been taken prisoner, dressed in black pajamas, and were seen being led off into the jungle. Numerous intelligence reports were received concerning two U.S. POWs fitting the descriptions of Bowers and Arroyo-Baez, that were seen by ARVN and VC personnel at different times and locations after their capture, some conflicting. A Vietnamese who was captured and escaped stated that Arroyo-Baez was alive, but that Bowers had been shot the day of capture. The combination of the most credible reports indicate that Bowers and Arroyo-Baez were captured during the battle, but in the confusion were able to escape. They were located by the Viet Cong, however, on the same evening. The next day, a VC guard killed Bowers after he had again attempted to escape. After it was determined that Bowers was dead, the guard and Arroyo-Baez departed with the rest of their group and were forced to travel a number of days by foot and sampan. The files of Bowers and Arroyo-Baez are still classified. SSG Gerasimo Arroyo-Baez's name appeared on the "Died in Captivity" list provided by the Provisional Government of Vietnam in 1973, and it was stated that he died in captivity August 22, 1972. Fourteen years later, in March 1985, the Vietnamese "discovered" the remains of Arroyo-Baez and returned them to the United States. Bowers was posthumously promoted to Major, and Freeman and Arroyo-Baez were posthumously promoted to Sergeant First Class. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and pownetwork.org]

DEAR STAFF SERGEANT ANDERSON,
THANK YOU FOR BEING AN INDIRECT FIRE INFANTRYMAN. ON THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THOSE OF YOU WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO CELEBRATE. REST IN PEACE

Dear SSGT Darrell Eugene Anderson, 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, Sir

Curt Carter