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• Baby-Face, The Paddy Slogger, Came Home First ... Corporal Bernie Rosales, Jr., United States Army Born February 8, 1948, Ithaca, Michigan KIA September 10, 1968, Long An, South Vietnam On The Wall: Panel 44W Line 019 Bernie, a.k.a., Baby Face, always had a smile on that sweet baby-face of his! After Boot, Bernie was assigned to ECHO Company, 2nd BN, 39th Infantry, 9th Division (1st RECON BRIGADE -- Lookin' Out The Back Door), US Army, beginning his 'Nam tour of duty on May 23, 1968.      At the age of 20 years, Corporal Rosales was killed in action in the Province of Long An, South Vietnam while checking on a fallen comrade. Before 24 hours had passed, Bernie's body was airlifted and repatriated to his family in Ithaca, Michigan. Bernie now sleeps in the Ithaca, Michigan cemetary, a few steps away from the Macha plots.      "Yes, Bernie always had a smile. When anyone was KIA, the Company Commander wrote a letter to the parents or wife. I remember Bernie's mother wrote back and sent all of us a box of goodies, cookies, etc. From my recollection, the letter was in Spanish and, unfortunately for us, we couldn't read it.      "Bernie was killed while checking on another fallen comrade. We were at close quarters around a hooch ... Charlie Company was coming in from the other side ... There was a VC/NVA in a bunker we didn't see and he shot and killed this guy from Charlie Company.      "After the VC was eliminated, Bernie walked up and leaned his rifle against the hooch and bent over to see if the guy was dead. There were 2 VC in a spider hole (which is impossible to see) and one of them shot Bernie. Tears were shed.      "We then eliminated those two VC. Later we captured two more. We had to stay the night in a defensive position until the next day.      "Bernie's body was airlifted out that night along with the two prisoners ... the Company Commander told the Battalion Commander if he didn't come get the prisoners they may not live through the night ... I think he was probably right. We were not in the best of moods."          ~ Joe Rambo ECHO, 2nd BN, 39th Infantry, 9th Division, US Army (Photo of Bernie Rosales, Jr. is the property of Joe Rambo, used with permission.) Bernie is remembered with much love, respect, admiration, and gratitude by his friends and classmates of Ithaca 1966, Ithaca, Michigan; and Bernie is remembered with great pride and honor by his Comrades of ECHO Company. Joe Rambo, thank you, from the Class of 1966, Ithaca, Michigan. Back To The Top