Thomas Ray Bowen
Private First Class
B BTRY, 1ST BN, 77TH ARTILLERY, 1ST CAV DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Forestville, California
November 19, 1949 to April 01, 1970
THOMAS R BOWEN is on the Wall at Panel W12, Line 65

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A Note from The Virtual Wall

During the period immediately prior to the Cambodian incursion, United States and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) units conducted extensive operations along the South Viet Nam/Cambodian border. During March and April of 1970 the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) opened and closed seven fire bases to support these operations.

Fire Support Base Illingworth, located on Route LTL-20 about 35 kilometers northwest of Tay Ninh City, opened on 17 March, and was assaulted by a battalion of the 272nd NVA Regiment in the early morning hours of 01 April 1970. The Base was closed on 04 April by the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, as the focus of US operations shifted.

When the Fire Base closed, a total of 16 howitzers moved to FSB Wood (4 x 8 inch and 12 x 105mm howitzers from 4 different units) which was a large concentration of artillery weapons for a relatively small Fire Support Base.

While the assault on FSB Illingworth cost the North Vietnamese nearly two hundred dead, the Americans paid a high price too. US losses were 25 known dead and 54 wounded in action. The United States soldiers killed in action were



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