A Man is Not Dead Until He is Forgotten
The Story of Albert "AB" Brigham

By Ray Davidson, syndicated columnist. He can be reached at  rayd45@aol.com.

A native of Girard, Georgia, "AB" Brigham was living in Savannah, Georgia when he was drafted into the United States Marine Corps. Lance Corporal. Brigham, called "AB" by his friends in the Corps, was assigned to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division based out of Camp Pendleton, California. By December 1966 the division was deployed to South Viet Nam.

During the first week of December, the 2nd Battalion was conducting a search and destroy mission just South of Da Nang. This area of Viet Nam was a heavily populated, agricultural district with scattered woodlands, and many small villages and hamlets. Rivers, streams, canals, roads, footpaths and a railway traversed the area. Despite the presence of major bases in the area, it was infested with Viet Cong who extracted a heavy toll on the America Forces with mortar and rocket attacks, much as the insurgents are doing today in Iraq.

Moving into the target area the 2nd Battalion established its headquarters in a small village, Phong Loc, located east of Highway 1 that followed Viet Nam’s coastline. On Tuesday evening, December 13, 1966, several fire teams from Echo Company, including the one commanded by AB deployed along footpaths not far from the Song La Tho River. They set up flares, and probably a couple of claymores to try and ambush any Viet Cong moving along the footpaths and rice patties. It turned out to be a quiet night with no enemy contact.

Wednesday the weather took a turn for the better, sunshine, warmth, and no rain; a break from the past month of inclement weather. That morning, AB moved his fire team to a location on the South bank of the Song La Tho River near a small hamlet named Chau Lou and a railroad bridge that had been destroyed by Allied aircraft. There was several fire teams located about every 50 meters along the scrub-lined river. AB was nervous because intelligence reports had indicated the Viet Cong had underground bunkers dug into the riverbank and were accessible only by water. This could allow the Viet Cong to suddenly appear out of the water, catching his team by surprise.

After about an hour at this location AB's fire team spotted several Viet Cong across from their position headed toward the fire team 50 yards downstream. AB's team opened fire, as did the team further down the riverbank. After a short exchange of gunfire two bodies were spotted in the brush on the North river bank. Brigham and a young private nicknamed "Poncho" slung their rifles, removed their heavy ammo belts and web gear. Entering the water to swim the 50 ft river, AB instructed the two fire teams to provide cover fire, if needed. It was important to cross over and search the bodies for any identification, maps, or any papers providing information to help the area intelligence team. Both Poncho and Brigham were strong swimmers but as they got close to the other bank, the unmistakable sound of a Soviet AK47 rang out. There was a very brief exchange but when it was over the fire teams discovered the two Viet Cong bodies were gone.

Private First Class Cumming, fire team leader for the other team, noticed that AB was no longer swimming; but drifting with the current. He called out to AB as he dropped his web gear. He noticed that AB looked over at him but seemed unable to move and he slowly slipped under water. Cumming immediately ran into the water and swam out to the spot where he last saw AB. He searched the water surface downstream and the roots and tree limbs on the adjacent bank but to no avail. He started diving as four other Marines joined the search. As Cumming and the other Marines searched the water, the remaining Marines in the fire teams searched the riverbank downstream for over 500 meters. With dusk approaching, the squad leader, Staff Sergeant Bathhurst told his Marines it was time to wrap up the search. He said, "Brigham was a good Marine. We all tried. Now it's time to go back and get some rest." The search ended and Albert "AB" Brigham was reported as Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered.

Brigham was a well-trained, combat experienced, highly motivated and respected Marine. He was quick to smile with that embedded Southern nature of never meeting a stranger. Georgia gave him that nature, the Marines Corps gave him confidence and an inter value of self-worth. He was a leader and a friend to his fellow Marines.

Georgia too, lost a son on that warm sun drenched December morning. It is incumbent upon us not to let his memory die. So set aside a moment each December, on one of those sunny days, and remember, think of one of our sons, who with a big smile never met a stranger. Who, in the end, gave his life for each and everyone of us.

Email:

lorrie@scally.com

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