Vietnam Wall Panel coords 20E 055

Patrick Burns
Schoolmate
1495 373rd Ave NE Stanchfield MN 55080 USA

Here is a high school graduation photo of Lee Buan who graduated from Duluth (Minnesota) Denfeld High School in 1965. I was a schoolmate of his.
Jan 29, 2012

manny g
Fellow Veteran 69-70 An Khe
Union Gap, WA. 98903
�??You are Remembered�??
Peace and condolence, to the family and friends. �??He which hath no stomach, to this fight, let him depart. But we in it, shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers!! For he today, that sheds his blood with me, shall always be my brother.�?? Rest in peace brave soldier, you have not been forgotten. (W.Shakespeare) May God Bless you, for your Sacrifice!!!
May 20, 2008

Larry Anderson
Cousin
1851, Laurel Oaks Court, Ft Walton Beach, FL., 32547, USA
No Fear
I was 10, years old, when my cousin Lee died, in combat. The last time, I saw him, was, at Thanksgiving shortly, before he left ,for Vietnam. I vividly remember, how happy and jovial, he was and wondering why, he wasn�??t scared? Even at 10, years old, I knew from the news, that was a bad place, to be going. What Lee, fought and gave his life for, back then, is the same thing, we are fighting for today, a stable world, where we can, enjoy life and raise our children, in peace and without fear. Trying to be the savior, of South Vietnam, or Iraq, was/is secondary, to our Country�??s mission, to maintain, World Stability. If we don't do it, life on earth, will, become hell! Those who protested, Lee�??s war and those, who protest today�??s war are, the narrow minded, who, do not understand, the importance, of world stability. I served 24, years, in the military and still do now, as a civilian, but my service, will never compare, to my Cousin's service, he gave his life, for his country. For that, I will never, forget him.
Nov 16, 2007

Janice Randall
Sister
147, Columbus St, Sebastian, Fl., 32958, USA
Never a day passes
It has been 40, years, since you were taken from us, Lee and not a day has passed, that I haven't, thought of you and missed you. Love Janice
Oct 29, 2007

Ralph (Randy) Randall
Lee was my Uncle
My Uncle Lee
Below is a speech, I researched and gave, on my Uncle Lee's service, in Vietnam. I was surprised, at how much information, I was able to find about the battle he was in, back in 1967. It was mostly pieced together, from Medal, of Honor Citations, that were issued as a result, of the battle and published accounts. Lee you are dearly missed. The Fire Base at Duc Co, In 1967, my Uncle Lee went off, to war and I never, saw him again. I have a simple question? What happened? Lee was, my moms little brother. When I was 8, years old, he was 18. I can remember the last time, I got to play, with him. We were at, my grandparent�??s house one afternoon, when Lee came home, on his bicycle. Carrying his baseball bat, with his glove hanging, from the handlebars. He went into the house, flopped down, on his bed and pulled a pillow, over his head. I wasn�??t going to let him, off, that easy. I wanted to play. I grabbed, another pillow and started pounding on him, until he agreed, to come out and play. We played catch until dinnertime. Lee enlisted in the Army, that year and the next spring, he was attached to the 1st, Bn., 8th, Infantry, B, Company. In May 1967, the 8th, infantry, built a Forward Fire Base, at Duc Co, in the Pleiu ku valley, of Vietnam, about 20, miles, from the Cambodian boarder. Companies A, B and C, had orders, to run Search and Destroy mission, from the base. On May 18, my Uncle Lee and the rest, of Company B, went out on one, of those missions. Toward noon, Company B, encountered, scattered enemy troops and established, a company perimeter on a high ridgeline. The Company Commander detached, the 4th, Platoon, to patrol, along a dense jungle trail, heading northwest. At 1:30, pm., 4th, Platoon, came under heavy Automatic, Weapons fire, from three sides. When they tried to pull back, toward the main, Company B, camp, they found they were cutoff. Surrounded, pinned down and in an intense cross fire, the 4th, Platoon was, in a bad spot. It was later learned, that 120, or so soldiers, of Company B, had been engaged by the 32nd, Regiment, of the North, Vietnamese Army, with some 1300, men. Inside the pinned down, 4th, platoon, Sgt., Bruce Grandstaff ran, through a hale of bullets. He was trying, to reach several of his men, that had been wounded. He was able to pull one, of the men back inside, the Platoon's, defensive perimeter. Sgt., Grandstaff radioed, for artillery support. Then under heavy fire, he crawled outside of the platoon's, defensive position, to mark their location, with a smoke grenades. He was shot twice, once, in each leg. Now bleeding profusely and in intense pain, he crawled up to one, of the enemy machine gun emplacements, that had cut down, so many his men and destroyed it, with grenades, he was shot, a third time. Hundreds, of enemy soldiers were now overrunning, the 4th, Platoon, with only four, men, left alive, Sgt., Grandstaff radioed, for an artillery strike, directly, on his position. That was the last heard, from the 4th, platoon. This account was taken, from Sgt., Gransdstaff�??s, Medal, of Honor citation. Back, at the main Company B, perimeter, on the high ridgeline, Squadron Leader, Frankie Molnar was crawling, from foxhole to fox hole, checking, on his men. They were under heavy mortar attack, which he knew was prelude to a ground attack. He was, making sure his men, were prepared. The mortar fire, stopped and the enemy attacked, in a human wave. Molnar and his men, fought and repelled the attack. Under intense fire he re-supplied, his squad with ammunition just in time, for a second enemy onslaught. They forced, the enemy, to retreat again. Molnar moved, from foxhole to fox hole again, now helping, his many wounded men. With the help of several men, he was preparing to move a severely wounded soldier, when an enemy hand grenade was thrown into the group. Molnar threw himself, on it and absorbed the blast, saving many, of his men. Squadron leader, Molnar received, the second, Medal, of Honor, at the battle of Duc Co. On the other side of the camp, Private, Leslie Bellrichard was, with four, other soldiers, in a foxhole also, under massive enemy attack. Bellrichard rose, in face of a group, of charging enemy, throwing hand grenade, after hand grenade, into their midst. Until a mortar round, exploded, right in front of him, knocking him back into the foxhole and causing him, to lose his grip, on a live grenade. Bellrichard recognized the threat, to the other men and threw himself, on the grenade. Severely wounded, Private, Bellrichard struggled, into an upright position, in the foxhole and fired his rifle, at the on coming enemy until he died, from his wounds. Private, Bellrichard received, the 3rd, Medal, of Honor, of the battle of Duc Co. The battle for Duc Co raged, for three, days, from May 18 �?? 20, 1967. A battery 6th, of the 29th, Artillery, fired more than 26,000, artillery rounds, onto the battle field, in support, of Company B. 46, US., soldiers, lost their lives in the battle, including my Uncle Lee, another 96, were wounded. On May 23, 1967, the Fire Base at Duc Co, was closed. Where was Uncle Lee, during the battle? Was he with Sgt., Grandstaff and the 4th, platoon, when it was overrun? Was he helping Squadron Leader, Molnar evacuate, wounded soldiers? Was he along side Private, Bellrichard, in the foxhole? I don�??t know for sure. What I do know is, that my Uncle, Lee Buan, fought and died, along side some, of our countries greatest heroes.
Oct 29, 2007

Bret Hillman
Father's Friend
224 W. Palm St.
Duluth, mn 55811 USA
I never met this man
Hi, My name is Bret Hillman and I am 20 years old. I never met Lee but he was my father's best friend throughout High School. Lee died in 1967, I was born in 1979I can't explain how much I feel like I know this guy even though I never knew him, my dad doesn't talk about it that much. My dad, Tom, served in the Air Force from 1969-1970. He came home after that and married my mom. He came home. Lee didn't. That just goes to show you. I might not be here today and Lee's twenty something son might be writing this about my dad. I am so proud of these two men. Apprently Lee died when he was 19, younger than me. I couldn't even fathom dying in a war half way around the world. The young people today owe their freedom to guys like Lee who died for us. Be thankful. I am. Lee, whare ever you are, I thank you and God bless you. Bret Thomas Hillman March 20, 2000
Monday, March 20, 2000

Ruth Craycraft
" Poor is the nation that has no heroes,,, Shameful is the one that, having them ,,, forgets." - (Unknown). Rest in Peace Hero, you have not been forgotten.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Buan, Lee Bjarne, PFC