Bernie Rosales, Jr

The database page for Bernie Rosales, Jr

After Boot, Bernie (Baby-Face) was assigned to Echo Company, 2nd BN, 39th Infantry, 9th Division, US Army, and he began his tour of duty on May 23, 1968. At the age of 20 years, Corporal Rosales was killed in action in the Province of Long An, South Vietnam while checking on a fallen comrade. Before 24 hours had passed, Bernie's body was airlifted and repatriated to his family in Ithaca, Michigan. Bernie is remembered with much love by his friends and classmates of Ithaca 1966; and with great pride by his Comrades of ECHO Company. "Yes, Bernie always had a smile. When anyone was KIA, the Company Commander wrote a letter to the parents or wife. I remember Bernie's mother wrote back and sent all of us a box of goodies, cookies, etc. From my recollection, the letter was in Spanish and, unfortunately for us, we couldn't read it. "Bernie was killed while checking on another fallen comrade. We were at close quarters around a hooch ... Charlie Company was coming in from the other side ... There was a VC/NVA in a bunker we didn't see and he shot and killed this guy from Charlie Company. "After the VC was eliminated, Bernie walked up and leaned his rifle against the hooch and bent over to see if the guy was dead. There were 2 VC in a spider hole (which is impossible to see) and one of them shot Bernie. Tears were shed. "We then eliminated those two VC. Later we captured two more. We had to stay the night in a defensive position until the next day. "Bernie's body was airlifted out that night along with the two prisoners ... the Company Commander told the Battalion Commander if he didn't come get the prisoners they may not live through the night ... I think he was probably right. We were not in the best of moods." ~ Joe Rambo ECHO, 2nd BN, 39th Infantry, 9th Division, US Army Visit the PaddySloggers 06 Dec 2006 Baby Face, you are still missed! And here you are: Bernie Rosales, Jr. Thank you for helping to keep me free, Bernie. From a classmate, Ithaca 1966, Michigan, Nancee Greenlee 16 Jan 2007 Bernie, You are still missed. Nan From a friend and classmate, Nancee Greenlee 14130 Southwest 105th Ave, Apt. 20, Tigard, Or 97224 njogreenlee@verizon.net

The point-of-contact for this memorial is his friend and classmate, Nancee Greenlee njogreenlee@verizon.net

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 23 Oct 2001
Last updated 05/25/2007