Lewis, Frederick Harry, SFC

This Military Service Page was created/owned by SFC Anthony Eugene Santa Maria, IV to remember Lewis, Frederick Harry, SFC.

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Home Town San Antonio, TX	Last Address Breezy Hill Trailer-Court, Fayetteville, NC
Casualty Date Oct 18, 1966
Cause Hostile, Died	Reason Multiple Fragmentation Wounds
Location Ba Xugen (Vietnam)	Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Lafayette Memorial Park - Fayetteville, North Carolina	Wall/Plot Coordinates 11E 087

On October 18, 1966, Operation Crimson Tide took place, a n mission credited as being the first to attempt to recover an American POW (USAF CAPT Carl E. Jackson) who was being held by the Viet Cong at one of their R&R center located at Soc Trang. A SOG size company element was formed and commanded by CAPT Frank Jaks, a Czechoslovakia by birth, and was tasked with the rescue mission. SFC Charles R. Vessels and SFC Frederick H. Lewis were part of the 3rd Platoon. Their helicopters landed them directly in front of two heavily armed Viet Cong Battalions and the 306th NVA regiment with an estimated 1,000 soldiers. The entire 3rd Platoon was annihilated. All of the SOG participants were members of FOB-2. Unfortunately, the hastily crafted mission caused the force to land right in the middle of two well trained VC battalions. Needless to say, they did not rescue anyone and FOB-2 suffered very heavy casualties, including a couple of U.S. reconnaissance personnel (SFC Vessels and SFC Lewis). This operation is covered in a couple of different chapters in Jay Veith's book: CODE NAME: "Bright Light, The Untold Story of U.S. POW Rescue Efforts During the Vietnam War". [Taken from macvsog.cc]