The reading of the names. Although the final toll of KIA/Died of Wounds/MIA (Body Not Recovered) was at least 60, only 38 names were read. There was a lot of confusion about who was wounded and in hospitals throughout the area. Getting our wounded out of the jungle, however we could, was the priority as the battle ended. There was no way of keeping track of their disposition. We were ordered to withdraw from the ambush site as darkness fell, and couldn't recover the bodies until the next morning. It took days to identify all of the bodies. I hate to be cynical, but there was also evidence that the Division Command deliberately withheld names in order to deceive the media, and the public, about the number of casualties. When books were finally written about the battle in the early 2000s, research found that the Division Commander, MG Hay, and some members of Westmoreland's staff agreed to hold down the number of decorations awarded in order to reduce publicity and public outcry - action which was disrespectful to the horrendous price that our soldiers paid for tactical errors on the part of the leadership. Ironically, and shamefully wrong, MG Hay himself was awarded, and accepted, a Silver Star Medal for valor in the battle, in which he did not participate.

On the left of the image is the newly-arrived Battalion Commander, Major Louis Menetrey (quickly promoted to LTC), who replaced LTC Terry Allen Jr., killed in the battle. Behind the speaker is the Chaplain. Major Menetrey rose in rank to the highest levels, retiring many years later as General (4-star). He was an outstanding leader.

This series of images are screen shots from CBS film coverage of the memorial service.