Delta Company 1/20

Delta Company, 1st Of The 20th, 11th Light Infantry Brigade
Americal Division

David Henry DeForge

clockwise from Menster: Darrell Seegert, David DeForge, Ron Lyell, and J. R. Page

(left)Darrell Seegert, (right) David DeForge, (back to camera) 'unknown' Jackson

Lt. David DeForge, our Mortar platoon leader, was killed on March 8, 1969, the same day as Richard Adcock. That morning, our platoon was in the field and Lt. DeForge heard the radio calls to the CO from the first platoon reporting contact with an NVA unit and were taking casualties. Without hesitating, Lt. DeForge contacted the CO and told him we were about 4-5 clicks away and he could have our platoon move out immediately to the first platoon's location to help. Since we would be approaching from the rear side of the NVA's location, it was decided that our platoon would attack the NVA from there. We were in position and ready when the CO called Lt. DeForge and told him to wait for the 4 tracks that were heading to our location. Although I doubt that we had come up behind the NVA without them knowing it before the tracks arrived, once they got there, some 45 minutes later, our presence was certainly obvious. DeForge had me and a few other guys stay behind as a rear guard while the platoon moved out to assault with the tracks on line. DeForge's RTO, told us later that when the NVA opened up, everyone hit the ground. Lt. DeForge then grabbed the radio handset from him and rose up to pinpoint where the firing was coming when he was hit twice and killed instantly. Another mortarman, Bill Gratzer, was wounded when a grenade went off about 3 feet from his head. No shrapnel hit him but the concussion alone nearly killed him. Lt. DeForge was more than a platoon leader to us. A genuinely good and kind person, everyone in the platoon considered him a friend first and a platoon leader second.
35 years later and it still hurts.
Bob Brink
Mortar Platoon, Sept. 5, '68 to Aug. 30, '69

  (Right hand photo 'unknown' Jackson was DeForge's RTO)

At LZ Buddha, our platoon slept in the small building next to the big church. At 2:00 am one morning I was awake pulling my 1 hour watch when I heard a dull groan in the room next to mine. Jackson had been sleeping on a cot in that room when a stray .50 cal round fired from the Quad 50s at LZ Bronco 5-6 clicks away entered the doorway of Jackson's room and hit Jackson in the stomach, exiting his back, and was found intact on his cot after he was put on a stretcher. Someone grabbed it and handed it to Jackson as he was being put on the dustoff.
Bob Brink

Mr. DeForge and Thomas DeForge holding certificate from the Delta Company - 2006

  My Name is Thomas DeForge. My brother is LT David DeForge, KIA in Vietnam. You have featured him with others on your website. My son found this site during a web search (He is named after David). I was touched by the article and want to thank the writer from my heart. I have been taking my Dad to his WWII reunions for 15 years and visits to the Vietnam Memorial in Washinton. My God, I am overcome at that site. He too won the Purple heart in WWII. My Mom died 4 years ago with a broken heart and my Dad lives today with the same. I was thirteen years old when the Army showed up at our door with the bad news, and I remember it like it was yesterday. I remain proud of all of you, as you were all truly hero's! Thanks again. If Invited, I would like to show up at your reunion and thank you all personally!
Thomas E. DeForge

  I am David DeForge's sister. I don't remember him, I was nine when he died. For some reason these past few months I have been running into sites that have something about him. The first time was 3 days before the anniversary of his death and I couldn't believe he had been gone so long. I work down the street from where he is buried and I try to go there as often as possible, my mom and another brother are also buried there. I made a special trip that day just for him, figured maybe that was why after all this time something provoked my search of him, he didn't want to be forgotten and from what I have read of him I can see that he has not. I just wanted to say that although reading about his death on the Delta website was very upsetting, I am happy to hear he made such an impact on the people he came to know in his short life. I am always saddened by the fact I never got to know him. I am sure he would have been my favorite brother and my best friend. My thoughts are with all of you and I thank you for the good thoughts and memories you have of David.
Sincerely,
Nancy R.

Certificate to the family of David DeForge from the Delta Company - 2006