OTHERS WHO DIED TOO YOUNG

PHILLIP ROGERS
SP5, Medic, Army, 2/47/9th Inf Div
North Babylon, New York
Born March 9, 1946 -- Died June 25, 1968
Long An, South Vietnam
Ground Casualty, Small arms fire
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Phillip (Doc) Rogers of Babylon, New York. Doc Rogers was an African-American who was the battalion aid man. He had a beard, was stocky, and was about five foot eleven or an even six feet tall. Like all medics and corpsmen, he was loved and respected by all. One time we were sent on a three day hump and were supposed to make heavy contact so everyone had to pack enough ammo to sustain a large combat action. At that time I weighed about 120 pounds. I was a grenadier and carried the M-79 which weighed about seven pounds, my helmet which weighed two and a half pounds, 72 rounds of 79 ammo in my pack with 18 rounds around me, 6 belts of M-60 ammo which weighed 48 pounds, four grenades, at least two claymore mines, C Rations for three days, and a gallon of water. It must have weighed at least 100 pounds. To put the icing on the cake, I had the honor of being point man with a machete. It kicked my ass but I made it. When we got back to Binh Phuoc, Doc told a couple of guys that he had to hand it to me, that if there was anyone he thought that he didn't think could pull that brutal hump, it was me. I never forgot that compliment.

Time went on and we were told that there were two companies of NVA blocked in the Delta in Tan An Province. They sent us in to relieve the 5th of the 60th, another mech outfit. Our people had to retrieve their dead that they left in a track. The silly bastards had three APCS with a gunner and driver assualt the nippa palm. They were blown away. One track was in three pieces. One of our guys was killed and he was lying face down in the water and it was obvious that he was dead. Doc was scheduled to go back to the basecamp because he was going home. In fact, a truck was waiting for him on the highway to take him back. Doc made motions of helping the downed troop and guys told him no, to get on the truck and go to basecamp. Doc refused. He ran out there and as he kneeled over the KIA to see if he could do anything to help him, a sniper drilled him through his heart.(J. Driessler, Nov 1999)

Doc Rogers was one of the most respected men I knew in the battalion. I was there the day he was killed and Snoopy is right. Doc was supposed to get on the truck but when he heard someone was hit he went back toward the treeline to help and that is where he was hit. I remember him well, he was an inspiration to everyone. I thought at the time why him? He was such a great guy and always putting his life on the line for someone else. (R. Zobel, Nov 1999)

NOEL HURLEY
SP4, Army, 2/47/9th Inf Div
Godfrey, Illinois
Born Mar 25, 1945 -- Died Oct 25, 1968
Long An, South Vietnam
Ground Casualty, Artillery/Rocket/Mortars
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Noel Hurley was from Illinois. He was a farmer and real happy go lucky sort. He got a job in the rear and that should have been safe for him. He was leaving his hootch with a towel around him on his way to take a shower. A mortar round (theirs) hit the roof of the hootch, detonated and blew the back of his head off. Somehow I ended up with his belt (his name was stiched on the reverse side) and I threw it in the hootch. Delacerda ended up with it and after the action where Tony was killed, I saw a belt laying on the road. I picked up the belt and it was Hurley's. I threw that belt as far as I could into a rice paddy. (J. Driessler, Nov 1999)