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Danny Joe Mitchell
Private First Class
62ND TRANS CO, 7TH TRANS BN, 48TH TRANS GROUP, ARMY SPT CMD SAIGON, 1ST LOG CMD, USARV Army of the United States Marmet, West Virginia October 22, 1947 to August 25, 1968 DANNY J MITCHELL is on the Wall at Panel W46, Line 17 |
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We finally know the truth of your death in battle. You will never be forgotten by us. May you rest in peace knowing that I never forgot you all these years. I remember the uncle that I had as a child, and the man that gave his life so we, his family, could be free ...
From his nephew, |
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I knew Danny from the day he was born and recently found the memorial on the internet. Our families were neighbors, his sister Phyliss was my precious friend all my life and will be till death do us part. Danny was a great kid, loving, mischievious, and very handsome. My mother once cared for him when he was very ill because that is how we were all raised, as family rather than neighbors. Unfortunately I never knew Danny the adult who gave his young precious life for America. So many times I visit his grave and wonder why? Danny will live in the hearts of everyone who knew him especially mine. Thank you, my precious Danny, for giving us the opportunity to live in freedom.
Your friend, |
A Note from The Virtual WallIn a guerilla war there are no "rear areas", and there were none in Vietnam. The maneuver battalions and aviation units required tremendous amounts of resupply, and the transportation units delivered it - frequently along roads which were not secure from enemy attack.On 25 August 1968 units of the 48th Transportation Group were running a resupply convoy from Long Binh to Tay Ninh, where Allied units were heavily engaged with NVA and VC forces. Near Ap Nhi the convoy was anbushed by a reinforced battalion of the North Vietnamese Army. At least seven American troops died in the engagement, and one of them - Sergeant William W. Seay - received a posthumous Medal of Honor. The Citation gives a sense of what occurred: "As the main elements of the convoy entered the ambush killing zone, they were struck by intense rocket, machinegun and automatic weapon fire from the well concealed and entrenched enemy force. When his convoy was forced to stop, SGT Seay immediately dismounted and took a defensive position behind the wheels of a vehicle loaded with high-explosive ammunition. As the violent North Vietnamese assault approached to within 10 meters of the road, SGT Seay opened fire, killing 2 of the enemy. He then spotted a sniper in a tree approximately 75 meters to his front and killed him. When an enemy grenade was thrown under an ammunition trailer near his position, without regard for his own safety he left his protective cover, exposing himself to intense enemy fire, picked up the grenade, and threw it back to the North Vietnamese position, killing 4 more of the enemy and saving the lives of the men around him. Another enemy grenade landed approximately 3 meters from SGT Seay's position. Again SGT Seay left his covered position and threw the armed grenade back upon the assaulting enemy. After returning to his position he was painfully wounded in the right wrist; however, SGT Seay continued to give encouragement and direction to his fellow soldiers. After moving to the relative cover of a shallow ditch, he detected 3 enemy soldiers who had penetrated the position and were preparing to fire on his comrades. Although weak from loss of blood and with his right hand immobilized, SGT Seay stood up and fired his rifle with his left hand, killing all 3 and saving the lives of the other men in his location. ... SGT Seay was mortally wounded by a sniper's bullet."The seven men known to have died in the ambush are
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