A Note from The Virtual Wall
Before dawn on 19 Feb 1968 an estimated Viet Cong battalion attacked the Province Headquarters in downtown Phan Thiet. A simultaneous attack was launched on the 44th ARVN Regiment facility located northeast of the Province Headquarters.
At 0915 hours, an intelligence report was received indicating that an estimated forty wounded enemy soldiers were being carried by laborers six kilometers west of the city. In response, Alpha Company, 3/506th Infantry, was sent from LZ Betty across the Ca Ty River to the north bank to conduct a sweep and secure the area.
Once across the river 1st Platoon A/3/506 made contact with an enemy force. Following air and artillery strikes on the enemy positions, A/3/506 moved forward and engaged an estimated reinforced company-size enemy force in well-concealed and reinforced bunkers. The 3rd Platoon bore the brunt of an attack from concealed positions, with eight men killed in action and 20 wounded:
- PSGT John H. Gfeller, Abilene, KS
- SGT Carl A. Rattee, Monson, MA
- SP4 Donald F. Marshall, Honolulu, HI
- SP4 Thomas C. Vaughan, Ardmore, OK
- SP4 James R. Webster, Vernon, TX
- PFC Robert D. Griffis, Cincinnati, OH
- PFC Martin R. Knight, Belding, MI
- PFC Walter M. Patterson, Grand Rapids, MI
At the same time, Bravo Company 3/506 and the 5th Special Forces' Mobile Strike Force Company moved into downtown Phan Thiet and in house-to-house fighting dislodged the enemy and drove him from the city. Two men from 3/506 were killed in the fighting -
- 1LT Ashland F. Burchwell, Garland, TX, HQ Company, and
- CPL George R. Fuller, Thomaston, GA, Bravo Company.
Wales Brother and Sister Die in Widely separated Tragedies
A double funeral for a Wales brother and sister was held following one of the worst tragedies ever to hit a family in town.
Army Sgt. Carl Rattee, 21, and Carol Rattee, 10, children of Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Rattee of Monson Road, Wales, died within 10 days of each other in widely-sparated events.
Sgt. Rattee was killed in action in Vietnam about Feb. 19. His sister died in an auto accident in Ludlow last Friday, the day after the Rattee family had received word that the body of Carl had been found after he was first reported missing in action.
Lombard Funeral Home of Monson was in charge with a Military service for the brother, in charge of Wales VFW Post and representatives from Fort Devens.
A two-year Army veteran, Sgt. Rattee was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division and was a member of VFW Post #2596. He was to be discharged in April. He was born in Springfield, April 1946.
Carol was born in Ludlow in May of 1957 and was a 5th grade student at Wales Elementary School.
Besides their parents, they leave two sisters, Mrs. Marilyn Gaudreau, 20, of Ludlow, and Miss Pamela Rattee, 14, or Wales.
These two daughters and the two children of Mrs. Gaudreau, Lisa 2 and Louis 14 months, were also involved in the accident [and] received extensive injuries.
Palmer Journal-Register
07 Mar 1968
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