15 Jun 2004 REMEMBERED by his brother, Frank L. Grijalva 1301 14th Street, Douglas, Arizona, 85607 xyfroxj@aol.com

 

09 Jan 2007 Geronimo Grijalva was a member of the 4th Platoon, B Company, 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. I was his platoon leader during his time in Viet Nam. He was one of three platoon members killed killed on Hill 851 on September 4, 1968. We had made a combat assault north of Dak To just prior to a typhoon coming inland which covered the Central Highlands with more clouds and rain than normal. We spent our first night on this mission sleeping on the ground in a pouring rain and expecting an NVA assault any time during the night. That did not happen. We were searching for an NVA unit that was known to be on this mountain where our sister company had been mauled two days earlier. On the second day of this mission we moved across the mountain peak down to a steep ridge where we spent our second night. The NVA knew we were there and were heard moving around us in the jungle that night. The next day we moved down the mountain to a small hill top on a ridge of the mountain. We dug fox holes and prepared for a possible assault. Geronimo was one of four men in my platoon that took their turn outside of the company perimeter in what we called a "listening post." The NVA attack we had expected came the night of September 4, 1968. It came from the direction of the soldiers manning the 4th Platoon listening post. Three of the four men on the listening post were killed during that assault. These three men bravely did their duty without complaining or mumbling. They, like all others in our infantry company, knew the risks and dangers involved in every assignment that we were called on to perform. They, like others, knew that they had to take their rotation in filling the extremely dangerous jobs or manning very dangerous positions. These men are the real heros of the Viet Nam war. May they always be remembered for helping secure the freedoms that we enjoy in this great country. May God bless his family and continue to fill the empty spaces in their lives left by this brave soldier's sacrifice because he helped pay the price of sweet freedom enjoyed by all in the United States. Sherwin Dean Northcutt 4th Platoon Leader, B Co, 3/12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, northcuttd@charter.net

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall On 04 Sep 1968 B Company, 3/12th Infantry, lost six men on Hill 851 south of Dak Seang: SGT Thomas A. Ackerman, North Haledon, NJ CPL Roger D. Bell, Clover Garden, NC SP4 James E. Bowden, Spokane, WA CPL Bruce J. Greenwood, Maribel, WI SP4 Robert D. Litterio, San Antonio, TX PFC Geronimo L. Grijalva, Douglas, AZ Two other men died on Hill 851 that day - the pilot of a medevac helicopter, Warrant Officer James G. Zeimet of the 283rd Medical Detachment, and CPL Darol E. Lawrenz of Delta 3/12.

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