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Phillip Rogers
Specialist Five
HHC, 2ND BN, 47TH INFANTRY, 9TH INF DIV, USARV Army of the United States North Babylon, New York March 09, 1946 to June 25, 1968 PHILLIP ROGERS is on the Wall at Panel W55, Line 37 |
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I remember the day you were killed just like it was yesterday! We, the soldiers of Bravo Company 2/47 Mech. 9th. Infantry, had just pulled up to a woodline, getting prepared to go out on a search and destroy mission. All the men that were going in that day had dismounted the APC'S and had been loading up with everything they needed for the operation. You walked around the back of our track and asked me if I had seen your first aid bag. I was on the 50 cal. that day, I quickly replied that I had just seen your bag this morning and I would be glad to get it for you. I went inside the track, got your bag, and threw it down to you. We talked a while about you being a "short timer" and I was concerned about you going in that day. You told me not to worry about you, that you had been there a long time and that it was your time to go in because the rest of us had gone in the day before. The last thing that you said to me with a big smile on your face was
With that you joined up with the rest of the patrol. It seems that only about 15 minutes passed when all hell broke loose. We were receiving heavy automatic weapons fire and some 50 caliber fire from some of our APCs on the other side of the woodline! The patrol had gotten hit and you guys needed some help right away! I grabbed my M-16, got a few guys together, and ran into the woodline to see if we could help. I only got in about 50 yards when off to my left I saw some of of our men who appeared to be hit. I immediately ran over to see if I could help and there you were, laying across a soldier that you were trying to bandage up when a sniper shot you in the head. I carried you out to the DUST OFF that day and I've lived that day over and over a thousand times in the last thirty years! I just wanted to let you know that you are my HERO, Doc Rogers, and I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU! |
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I was the other Medic with Doc Rogers that day. We heard a burst of fire and someone yell Medic. I started to go across the river and Doc Rogers told me to wait til the area was secure. When we heard another call for Medic, we looked at each other and took off. I got stuck in the river mud and Philip made it across. He yelled to me asking if I had a field surgical kit. I told him that I did and I would bring it to him. He told me to stay where I was, just toss it to him. I tossed it over to him and a few seconds later heard another burst of fire. Someone yelled Medic and that Doc Rogers had been hit. As I started to cross the river, a guy who used to be in my platoon, Whooten, stopped me. He told me I wasn't going over there, it wasn't safe. When I argued with him, he pointed his weapon at me and told me that he would shoot me before he would let Charlie shoot me. It was a little later that I found out that Doc Rogers was killed trying to save the life of Don Ungaro, a member of my platoon. I have thought about that day for the last 38 years. I do believe that Philip Rogers saved my life that day. If it weren't for him I wouldn't be alive now. Doc Rogers was then and will always be my hero.
From a friend, |
A Note from The Virtual WallAccording to the MACV Monthly Summary for June 1968, on 24-25 June 1968 elements of the 9th Infantry Division engaged VC forces on the north bank of the Vam Co Tay River some 5 or 6 miles northeast of Tan An. Fifteen soldiers were killed in a number of individual engagements:
Medics on the Wall memorial which honors the Army Medics and Navy Corpsmen who died in Vietnam. |
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