20 May 2003 Remembering my brother J. T. Familiare sevenreed@aol.com

 

The following article is taken from The Philadelphia Daily News, special supplement entitled 'SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY,' October 26, 1987. "Butch" Familiare left Bishop Neumann High School after his sophomore year and worked in Atlantic City at the Club 500, among other places, before enlisting in the Army in 1966. He served as an assistant gunner with Company A of the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, after arriving in Viet Nam in August 1967. He died about 20 miles south of Saigon on October 17, 1967 -- the day after his 21st birthday. The private first class was survived by his mother, a brother and three sisters. From a native Philadelphian and Marine, Jim McIlhenney christianamacks@comcast.net

 

20 Sep 2005 I am very proud of Butch. Although he was only a boy he was the man of our family. I miss him dearly. From his sister, Kathy katbianchi@aol.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry had been operating west of the village of Chon Thanh since October 8th, conducting "search and destroy" operations in an area known to be occupied by large Viet Cong forces. Only four of the battalion's five companies (HHC, A, B, and D) were involved; C Company was providing fire base security for the supporting artillery unit. On the morning of 17 October, Alpha Company led out from the night defensive perimeter on a recon-in-force with the battalion command group in company and Delta Company in trail. Around noontime Alpha was engaged by a very much larger enemy force and Delta Company deployed in support. By the time the remaining forces could deploy in support of the engaged troops, the battalion command group and both Alpha and Delta had sustained very heavy casualties. Charlie Company was air-lifted in to assist Bravo and HHC and by late afternoon the area was secured as the VC forces withdrew. The fighting on 17 October resulted in 55 men killed in action, 3 who later died of their wounds, two missing in action, and 75 or more wounded. All 65 men in Alpha Company had been killed or wounded, Delta Company was little better off, and the Battalion Commander and his command group were dead. The Virtual Wall's Ong Thanh memorial summarizes the action and lists the dead. The 2/28's artillery Forward Observer, 2nd Lt Harold Durham (C Btry, 6/15th Arty), received a posthumous Medal of Honor for his actions, and the 15th Arty's memorial includes a newspaper article which gives another account of the battle.

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