DAVID WESTPHALL VETERANS FOUNDATION
ANNOUNCEMENT
On May 22, 1968, Bravo and Alpha Companies and other elements of the 1st Battalion 4th Marines engaged a North Vietnamese force east of Con Thien, South Vietnam in a battle in which 17 members of the 1st Battalion were killed in action, or later died of wounds sustained in that battle. The David Westphall Veterans Foundation is sponsoring a 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the battle. The ceremony is planned for May 22, 2018.
Among those killed in action was 1st Lt. Victor David Westphall. In response to Lt. Westphall’s death, his parents (Dr. and Mrs. Victor Westphall) created the Vietnam Veterans Memorial near Angel Fire, New Mexico. At that time, they also founded the David Westphall Veterans Foundation as a nonprofit corporation to own and operate the Memorial.
The ceremony will be at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Memorial was founded in July of 1968 and construction was begun in September of 1968. It is the first memorial designed and dedicated from the outset to remember and honor all Vietnam veterans. The Memorial is located near Angel Fire, New Mexico. It is now owned by the State of New Mexico and is operated by the New Mexico Department of Veteran Services.
Next of kin of those Marines who were killed in action are invited as are all Marines and Corpsmen who participated in the May 22, 1968 battle, as well as their family members. Any member, past of present, of the 1st Battalion 4th Marines as well as the public are welcome and are encouraged to attend.
The time for the ceremony will be announced at a later time. Traditionally, ceremonies such as those for Memorial Day and Veterans Day have started at 11:00 a.m. The details of the ceremony are being developed but there will be a “missing man” roll call to recognize those who were killed in action. All participants in the battle who attend the ceremony will be recognized as well. Attendees who wish to speak in memory of one of the Marines killed in this battle will have an opportunity to do that.
Anyone interested in attending this event may contact Walter Westphall [ wwestphall@cox.net ] to let him know about their plans and to get additional information.
The Foundation has arranged for a group rate at the following hotel:
The Lodge at Angel Fire Resort [Website: https://www.angelfireresort.com/lodging ]
Group rate-$87 plus tax per night for standard room. [Ask for “non-profit” rate]
Telephone: 844-218-4107
Email: cenres@angelfireresort.com
Address: 10 Miller Lane, Angel Fire, New Mexico 87710
Angel Fire Chamber of Commerce website: http://www.angelfirechamber.org
I will be attending.
I will be there also on May 22, 2018, 16 family members are coming in for the Memorial weekend. Middleton 1st Sqd 1st Plt. Bravo 1/4 Dec 67- Jan 69.
Do you know Mike Nash? He was also Bravo 1/4 and was there on 5/22/68. I think maybe 3rd platoon however. I know he wanted to go to reunion but was not able. I’m his son. Former Marine as well. Bless you all.
Martin n Alice Martinez will b attending.
William L. Peck, I’ll be there at the 50th anniversary.
Will be attending the ceremony, Ray & Linda Trevizo – A 1/4 67/68
Johnny and Espy Holguin
1st Bn 4th Marines 67-68 will be attending
Machine Gun Squad Leader, Bravo 1/4,,, I was awarded my 2nd of 3 Purple Hearts during that ambush as we were walking point.
I will be there.
Hello sir, do you know Mike Nash? He was with Bravo 1/4 and was there on 5/22/68. I’m his son. Former Marine as well..
Hello Brian Nash
my name is joe garcia I served with Bravo Company with the 1/4. I was in Vietnam November 1967-68 and wounded in July.
If your father lived in Sacramento California then I knew your dad.
Sgt. Steve Habursky, Lt. Joe Johnston and LCPL Phil Turner of 2nd platoon will be attending.
My wife and I will be in attendance. I was with Alpha Co 1/4.
I will be attending with my wife and daughter,,
1/4 Alpha ,,1st Platoon
67-68
From Corpus Christi
Good day Mr. Jimenez,
Just a note to let you know that Alpha Co Marins have been having reunions for 17 years now. Are you, or would you like to be on our mailing list?
Rodger Clemons
A 1/4 April 68 – May 69
We will gather to commemorate the 50th Anniversary on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire, at 11:00 a.m., Daylight Saving Time (Mountain Time zone). The ceremonies will focus on the men who died and on those next of kin and battle survivors that they left behind. The public is invited.
My name is Thomas Wallace and I was Lt Westphall’s Platoon Sgt. I can not attend the Memorial but please know that I pray for all the wonderful men that we lost every day of my life. I will never forget my brother in arms. God bless and Semper Fi.
Sgt Thomas M. Wallace.
Thomas, this is Walter Westphall. I am Lt. Westphall’s brother. Thank you for your prayers for my brother and for all those who died in Vietnam. If you are interested, I can send you the compilation of accounts of the May 22, 1968 battle that I have put together. I see that your tour began on 10 May 1967. I wonder if you were in the battle of May 22nd given the Marines 13-month tour policy? If so, let me know if you have any recollections that you might want to add to the compilation I mentioned above. Thanks and regards, Walter Westphall
I was with 1/4 and wounded during TET. I was not in that ambush but served with your brother. Not a day goes by in my life that I don’t think of my days with all of those brave Marines. I always have a hat, shirt, or coat that has a Marine logo on it and most say “Viet Nam Veteran”. I still carry it with pride. Captain Ron Morgan was my C/O. He saved my life more than once in that hell hole. My prayers are with you Walt and all of your family. Wish I could be with you but due to complications from Agent Orange, I am not able to travel like I once did. God bless you all and God bless The Marine Corps!!!! SEMPER FI.
Sgt. Ollar,
Thanks for your service and thanks for wishing us well. I hope that the event on May 22, 2018 will be well attended. Sorry that you can not make it. Best of luck with your Agent Orange issues.
Best regards,
Walter Westphall
Capt. Gary Hutteball, FAC at the May 22nd battle, just “flew west” in Las Vegas NV on June 22nd. His service will be at the Boulder National Cematary on this August 1st.
We just read of your reunion this date and sorry we missed it but extend our remembrance to you. Gary relieved me as 1/4 FAC as I had relieved Glenn Takabayasi. Together with Warren Keneipp we all flew together in VMF-334 at El Toro.
Warren fell in another costly ambush at the same location on July 2, 1967 as FAC with B 1/9. Warren had just relieved Glenn as the FAC at Con Thien when 1/4 was relieved of their “time in the bucket” by 1/9. On July 5th we inserted on the trace from Dong Ha in CH-34s and probed up to the market place. We then hiked southwest down route 561 and then west past the still smoldering tank to the catholic church at Con Thien. The next day we suffered more wounded and KIA in C 1/4 as we swept back down to the C-2 bridge.
If you look today at the location of the marketplace ambush on google earth you will see 561 paved and disconcertingly peaceful homes.
Semper Fi 1/4 Marines
Rodriguez, urbano Jr. A. Co. 1st plt. 1/4.
Jan 68- April 68. Sent down south cap units
Semper Fi Marine. Pass my best wishes on to your father. My son is also in our Corps I was not with B when they were hit in Granite but was with C on the slope above the ambush. If your father remembers a common event I might be able to recall the connection.
Looking for anyone in a co, 1st bn, 4th marines who may have known lcpl david harty, kia apr 26 1968. Not sure where he was in I corp. I understand there were about 70,000 marines there.
I was a corpsmen with 1/4 on that day and I live with that day every day of my life may god bless all that served there.
I was with 1/4 “Bravo” 3rd platoon. Most of the men called me “Preacher” because I was always reading from the little New Testament that I carried in my flak jacket. 22May1968 was a miracle day for me, but the 2nd worse day of my life. I’m not a company genius, but my shrink/s say I need to make peace with that day (among a few others). I’ve never seen accurate info on that day–ANYWHERE!! Lt. Westphall’s dad used to write to me (back in the 80’s & maybe the 90’s) asking questions about the ambush. I could tell by the maps he sent to me, that he was being given a lot of bogus info. I corrected a few things. I think I returned 3 letters, and then it wasn’t something I wanted more to do with, at that time. I knew nothing of the “ceremony” almost 5 years ago. I am so sorry I missed it. I’m leaving tomorrow to go to the “Wall” in Washington. I would like to do a tracing of every one of the men’s names I was with that day, the last day of their lives.
Good grief, I meant to say “I’m not a computer genius” in my post. I hope it can be corrected. I’d appreciate it a ton. I was trying to make it clear that I’m not on the computer all the time. I also meant to say that I can’t think of anything I wouldn’t do for the men of Bravo, 1/4. I’m not rich, but I’m still mobile. 🙂
Dwight,
This is Walter Westphall, the brother of Lt. David Westphall. My father died in 2003 and my mother in 2004. I am the sole surviving founder of the Vietnam Memorial at Angel Fire. I realize that early on my father had some erroneous information, but I think we have better information now. I would like to share what we have with you. And to find out what information you have.
There is a book about the Memorial and the May 22, 1968 battle. “The Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Angel Fire” by Steven Trout, published 2020 by the University Press of Kansas. Should be available on Amazon or through other sources if you are interested.
I can provide you my email if you are interested.
Thanks for your comments.
Walter:
I served in the battalion, during your brother’s tour, for four months until I rotated home in February 68. I look forward to visiting Angel Fire. I skied Taos many times in the 69 through 75 and never knew it was there.
Another book mentioning that Phu Oc ambush, but a little controversial, is by Capt Jim Coan of Alpha 3rd Tank Battalion who also provided us support at earlier Phu Oc ambushes in July and December 1967. It is his recollections of those times and is titled CON THIEN the hill of angels published by the University of Alabama Press in 2004.
Semper Fi,
George