Shadow box

On 03 Jan 1968, A Company 1/5 Infantry provided security for a Fire Support Base located at XS728926. An APC detonated an antitank mine, killing three men and wounding several others. One of the wounded, PFC Bruce Moran, died on 05 Jan of injuries received. The four men were

john holochwost
jhollie@holliestudios.com
Co. A 1st Platoon
Bruce had just arrived at our Katum base from Division at Cu Chi. His jungle fatigues were new and the green dye hadn't even begun to fade. He was trying to fit in with his new squad and had even begun to personalize the cotton camo helmet cover he was issued. He was new so he drew and wrote small with a black marker, later when he had fit himself into the group there would be bigger pictures and slogans to make himself even more a part of this collection of strangers that would depend on each other so much...sorry that chance never came for you.
Oct 9, 2006

john holochwost
holliestudios@worldnet.att.net
Platoon Member
As the rains ended and the roads dried enough to let heavy vehicles pass, we left our base at Cu Chi at the end of November and headed northwest through Tay Ninh, pass Nui Ba Den and the French Fort to our destination at Katum. They said this had been a Japanese camp during WWII, but was overgrown jungle in 1968, the end of the road where we established the outermost camp near the Cambodian border. Every day we'd sweep and secure the road for supply convoys and sneak out at dusk to lay in ambush along the road. On the morning of Jan. 3rd as we assembled to begin our sweep, an explosion ripped apart an APC killing Harry Bartholomew, Jim Scherer and Paul Striepe and wounding eveyone else on the vehicle. Bruce was among those wounded and died two days later on Jan. 5th.
Saturday, April 15, 2000

Denis McDonough
Denis1146@aol.com
Fellow Bobcat 1/5 mech

Bruce,I just wanted you to know, you are not forgotten. You are loved and missed. My prayers to you and your family. If anyone knows this brave soldier who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Would you please contact Randy@Bobcat.WS so we can honor Bruce by having his picture placed on his former unit the 1/5 Mech website memorial page and on the Wall.
Friday, September 03, 2004

If I should die, and leave you here awhile, be not like others, sore undone, who keep long vigils by the silent dust, and weep...for MY sake, turn again to life, and smile...Nerving thy heart, and trembling hand to do something to comfort other hearts than thine...Complete these dear, unfinished tasks of mine....and I, perchance, may therein comfort you

FOREVER REMEMBERED

"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them....
Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind...."

Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell
KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces.

We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you, one of the gentle heroes lost to the War in Vietnam:

Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul ... and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.

From your Nam-Band-Of-Brothers

Thank you for your service and for your supreme sacrifice. No one will ever be able to repay you for your loyal service, and literally the least we can do is remember you as a faithful servant to the United States.
I have never known you but feel an obligation to honor you by taking a few moments of my time to post a remembrance in your honor

Moran, Bruce James, PFC