27 Nov 2003 Sgt. Larry Bennett joined our Alpha Company, 1/16th Infantry, at Lai Khe, Vietnam on 26 August 1968. He was transfered along with our entire Battalion to the Mekong Delta region to join the 9th Infantry Division as 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry in October 1968. Larry was a very good NCO with a lot of potential. He was assigned to 2nd Platoon as a fire team leader and I was assigned to 1st Platoon with a similar position. Larry and I often exchanged thoughts and ideas on how to be the best leaders we could be at all times. He always displayed a positive and upbeat attitude and was a pleasure to be around. Larry was a highly motivated 20 year old NCO who, without doubt, contributed greatly to the success of our unit. Sgt. Bennett, along with other Vietnam Veterans, perished in an enemy ambush in Dinh Tuong Province on 18 October 1968. That tragic date will forever be etched in my memories. Larry's 2nd Platoon lost 3 great young Sergeants but to us we had lost 3 beloved Vietnam Brothers. We miss you very much, Larry and we salute you as a true American Hero.

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry, arrived in Vietnam in October 1965 as a unit of the 1st Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade. As noted above, in the summer of 1968 it was decided to reorganize the battalion as mechanized infantry. In September 1968 the 5th Bn, 60th Infantry, was reorganized as dismounted divisional infantry and its mechanized assets were transfered to 1/16th Infantry in October 1968. Alpha Company, 1/16th Infantry, lost three men on 18 October 1968: SSG Otis L. Norris, Champaign, IL SGT Larry D. Bennett, Oklahoma City, OK SGT Randall E. Welch, Covington, KY

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