Lai Khe Base Camp was a Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and U.S. Army base, located along Highway 13 ("Thunder Road") to the northwest of Saigon. It was the Headquarters for the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division. Late in the afternoon of February 4, 1966, near sunset, a platoon-sized patrol consisting of 32 men departed the camp on foot to conduct a night ambush mission in the area to west of the base. Most of the personnel were from 3rd Platoon, A Company, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry of the 1st Infantry Division. After clearing the perimeter, the point element crossed the Saigon River. As the command group, including some officers and the Forward Observer and radiomen, were preparing to cross, two U.S.made M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel mines were detonated in a sandbar. The blasts killed ten Americans and wounded another nine. The explosions could be heard within the base, and when Battalion couldn't establish radio contact with the patrol, a reactionary force raced over to their location. Helicopters were launched, and medivacs soon landed to remove the dead and wounded. It would take over four hours to completely police-up the ambush site as members of A Company worked in the dark to remove weapons and equipment. The lost personnel included: Alpha Company, 1/16th Infantry, lost at least nine men as a result of the 04 Feb 1966 engagement described in more detail on SP4 Stephen E. Laier's memorial page. In addition to the seven men killed in the action, at least two more died of injuries received: SSG Paul Ray Setzer, Colma, California SSG Frank Raymond Stamper, New Albany, Indiana SSG Charles Edward Strader, Lexington, Kentucky SGT Arnold E. Ison, Viper, Kentucky SP4 Stephen Eugene Laier, Fort Wayne, Indiana (DoW 02/15/1966) (DSC) SP4 John H. Thompson, Homer, Louisiana SP4 Stanley James Thompson, Ann Arbor, Michigan PFC Antonio Barbosa-Villafane, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico PFC William Alfred Bason, II, Huntsville, Alabama PFC Samuel Lee Dellos, Worland, Wyoming (DoW 02/06/1966) Steve Laier's actions after he was wounded undoubtedly saved the lives of many of the other wounded. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's second highest award for valor in combat. PFC Samuel Lee Dellos was survived by his parents, Marcella (Wells) Dellos (1924-2005), Samuel Lee Dellos (1921-1995) and sisters Gloria I. (1944- ), Janice L. (1946- ) and Victoria Jean (Dellos) Locke (1950-2014). The family is buried in Ten Sleep Cemetery, Ten Sleep, Washakie County, Wyoming. - - The Virtual Wall, 24 May 2023

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