Eagle Diary: During this period, the Drive On 2nd Bn. (Ambl.), 501st Inf. operating in two locations approximately 10 and 17 miles southwest of Hue, was busy destroying the enemy and his cache. The action began with the 3rd Plat, Co. C, 2/501st, uncovering a buried cache of RPG rounds and boosters and tunnel digging equipment north of FB Bastogne. The next morning, the 3rd Plat. of Co. B discovered a large bunker south of FB Veghel. An investigation revealed six 82mm mortar rounds with one box of fuses, one 60mm mortar round and six antitank mines. The biggest fight came the next day south of FB Veghel. The 3rd Plat. of Co. B came under attack from an unknown size enemy force. 
An attempt by the 3rd Plat. of Co. A to air assault and reinforce the element was aborted due to heavy fire from enemy gunners around the LZ. Co. A moved by land toward the "Bravos" while artillery, ARA and tactical air strikes were employed. As the elements attempted to link up, both units received mortar and small arms fire. The Screaming Eagles returned organic weapons fire and again artillery was employed. The 4th Plat. of Co. B then came under attack...At noon the next day during a CA, Co. A, 2/501st, received 12.7mm machinegun and small arms fire from the area surrounding the LZ. The “Attack" troopers returned organic weapons fire and ARA was employed.      - Screaming Eagle, April 1971

SSG John Wentworth was a competent soldier who had the ability to work with and motivate the guys in his command. After serving a very long period in the field in operations off Firebases Brick, Tomahawk and Bastogne, he had  well-earned a supply position in the rear in support of troops in the field. However, after a large number became casualties in the ambush off of Firebase Veghel, John, on his own initiative, voluntarily returned to the field. He was killed in the firefight mentioned at the end of the above article.

In a war, in which we were never sure who we were really fighting it for, we fought for each other. SSG John Wentworth not only fought for us, he "gave all" for us.         - Ray Houghton

At our 2004 Reunion, family members, including John's brother and sister, were present to receive the Some Gave All Award. 

Back to Some Gave All