29 Aug 2006 Gone but never forgotten. Missed by family and friends. Through pictures and old letters your great nephews got to know what a truly wonderful son, brother and uncle you were. Love, Donna From his niece, Donna P. Lombardo E-mail address is not available.

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall Patrol Base DIAMOND III was established on 14 April 1969 about 32 kilometers southwest of Tay Ninh City and manned by A Company 2/27 Infantry and artillery from 1/8th Arty. Perhaps it may seem odd, but the Navy's SeaBees actually built the patrol base: "April 14, 1969 - SeaBee Team 0913 [from NMCB-9] completed construction of a defensive berm at Fire Base DIAMOND III in response to an emergency request." From Timeline, US Navy SeaBees in Vietnam Only hours after completion, Patrol Base DIAMOND III was attacked. The 25th Infantry Division's Div Arty Operational Report contains the following entry: "Patrol Base Diamond III was established on 14 April 1969. By nightfall on the 14th the patrol base (XT 327215), a duplicate of Diamond II, was well fortified and ready for action. At 0300 hours the next morning, three battalions of NVA soldiers launched a coordinated heavy weapons and ground attack against Patrol Base Diamond III. The Patrol Base also received a total of 350 RPG's and 150 82mm mortar rounds. The two howitzer sections at Diamond III fired 350 HE and 12 Beehive rounds while the remainder of the battery fired indirect support of more than 500 HE and 40 firecracker rounds in an attempt to ward off the enemy attack. Enemy losses were listed at 228 NVA dead and an estimated 200 additional casualties." Although many reports mention only the 13 infantrymen who died at DIAMOND III, 15 Americans were killed in the fight: A Co, 2nd Bn, 27th Infantry SP4 Billy C. Alston, Brighton, TN SGT Stanley A. Carter, Moses Lake, WA SP4 John G. Glassey, East Meadow, NY SP4 Michael E. Harr, Blountville, TN SP4 Willie B. Jacobs, Augusta, GA SGT Lawrence O. Keller, Chicago, IL SGT Jimmy D. Lester, Eldon, MO SP4 Ralph Maynard, Wilsondale, WV SGT Anthony A. Proietti, Chicago, IL SP4 Peter T. Rasmussen, Paramus, NJ SP4 John L. Smith, Canton, OH SP4 James W. Taylor, Wilbar, NC SP4 Larry P. Tregre, Hahnville, LA C Btry, 1st Bn, 8th Artillery PFC James W. Derbyshire, Bridgeton, NJ PFC William F. Hitchcock, Middleboro, MA

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