Death Valley (32 page)

Second Lieutenant William P. Wilson, artillery forward observer of C/4–31st Infantry, eating a “Lurp” meal. (Courtesy William P. Wilson)

Privite First Class Eric R. “Rick” Shimer was the first man shot when B/3–21st Infantry, Americal Division, walked into an NVA bunker complex in the Song Chang Valley on 20August 1969. (Courtesy Eric R. Shimer)

John Curtis, Tom Goodwin, Jay Curtis, and Dan Lipetzky (left to right) of A/3–21st Infantry. Lipetzky was killed by a sniper two months before the battle in the Song Chang Valley. (Courtesy Thomas G. Goodwin)

Specialist 5th Class Joseph Kralich, senior medic of 4–31st Infantry, on Firebase West. (Courtesy Col. Cecil M. Henry, USA, Ret)

D/4–31st Infantry moves off Firebase West into the Hiep Duc Valley. (Courtesy Kay Whittecar)

Second Lieutenant William J. Schuler and Lance Cpl. Ruben Rivera (bareheaded) of E/2/7 Marines, which was sent into the Hiep Duc Valley to reinforce the Americal. Schuler was wounded and Rivera killed by the same mortar round on 26 August 1969. (Courtesy William J. Schuler)

Lieutenant Schuler (with cigar and beer) and 1st Lt. Paul T. Lindsay, commander of E/2/7, before the move to the Hiep Duc Valley. (Courtesy William J. Schuler)

Second Lieutenant William T. Brennon, a platoon leader in H/2/7 Marines. (Courtesy Ralph B. Sirianni)

Lance Corporal Ralph B. Sirianni (kneeling center) of H/2/7 Marines. (Courtesy Ralph B. Sirianni)

Corporal Beckler (with cigarette), a squad leader in H/2/7 Marines. (Courtesy Ralph B. Sirianni)

The 3d Battalion, 7th Marines begins moving off Firebase West to relieve 2/7 on August 27, 1969. (Courtesy Col. Ray G. Kummerow, USMC, Ret)

Marines in the Hiep Duc Valley. (Courtesy Col. Ray G. Kummerow, USMC, Ret)

Lance Corporal William S. Monahan (foreground), a radioman with the 3/7 Marines command group, in the Hiep Duc Valley. (Courtesy Col. Ray G. Kummerow, USMC, Ret)

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Death Valley