Delta Company 1/20

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

Steve Edward Wertz

Steve Wertz was from Ohio and he loved horses. When Willie Shoemaker and Johnny Longden came out to [LZ] Dottie, Steve was just ecstatic that he was actually going to meet them. I was standing by Steve when Shoemaker walked over and said hello and shook our hands. Steve told Shoemaker about how he had dreamed of meeting and talking to him someday. So Shoemaker stopped and talked with Steve for about half an hour, until he had to leave to visit another LZ. It was obvious that Shoemaker was enjoying the conversation as much as Steve was. I'd bet that whenever Shoemaker thought back on his visits with GIs in VN, he remembered that one. Steve was attached to the 3rd platoon the night of 12/4/68, and was killed in the "friendly-fire" mortar round incident that also killed Lt. Bales, Blair Two Crow and I believe William Hodges, who is listed in the Americal Div, non-brigade casualty list. I just can't confirm that for sure since I didn't know him personally.
Bob Brink
Mortar Platoon, Sept. 5, '68 to Aug. 30, '69