The Naming of Camp Enari

As Colonel Jud Miller, commanding officer of the Second Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division, completed preparations for leading his brigade from Fort Lewis, Washington to Vietnam, Major General Arthur Collins, Division Commander, called him to his headquarters to wish him luck and give him final instructions. Among other things, Colonel Miller was to establish the base camp which the division would occupy when they arrived later in the year.

"Jud, I want you to name the base camp after the first GI killed by hostile fire after you get to Vietnam. That would be a fitting tribute to a brave soldier", said General Collins in his parting instruction as Colonel Miller left on that day in July, 1966 to board the plane taking the advance party to the division's new home south of Pleiku, Vietnam.

On September 3, 1966, while operating on a search and destroy mission as a member of Charlie Company, First Battalion, 22nd Infantry regiment, PFC Albert Collins became the first Ivy Division soldier killed in action when he was cut down by heavy fire from a Vietcong unit.

Knowing that General Collins would not want it to be perceived that the base camp was named after him, Colonel Miller sent a back channel message to General Collins at Fort Lewis explaining his proposed alternative plan for naming the base camp. "Since the first enlisted man killed in action was named Collins, I recommend we name the base camp after the first officer killed in action." General Collins agreed with Colonel Miller's recommendation.

On November 5, 1966, while participating in Operation Paul Revere IV with Alpha Company, First battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, Lieutenant Richard Collins, graduate of the West Point class of 1965, became the first Ivy Division officer killed in Vietnam when he was shot by a dug in North Vietnamese force. By now, General Collins had arrived in Vietnam and discussed the dilemna with Colonel Miller. "We'll name the base camp after the first posthumous recipient of the Silver Star, regardless of his name or rank," was the agreed to plan.

Lieutenant Mark Enari had worked on the Second Brigade staff and was constantly prodding Colonel Miller to let him go to a line company to lead a rifle platoon. As a replacement was needed in the First Battalion, 12th Infantry regiment, Lieutenant Mark N. Enari earned the Silver Star while fighting the North Vietnamese regulars during Operation Paul Revere IV in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Lt. Enari died as a result of the wounds he received during that battle.

Early in 1967, the Fourth Infantry Division's base camp, sitting at the foot of Dragon Mountain in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, was named Camp Enari in honor of Lieutenant Mark Enari and retained that name as long as American forces were in Vietnam.

PFC Albert Collins' name is engraved on Panel 10E, line 66 on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

The above story was told to Bob Babcock, B/1-22 1965-1967, by BG (Ret) Jud Miller at a mini-reunion at Fort Lewis, Washington in 1994. It has appeared in the "Ivy Leaves" and in the book "War Stories - Utah Beach to Pleiku."

First Lieutenant Mark Enari served as a platoon leader in Company A, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division.

The 4th Infantry Division had arrived in western II Corps in 1966. It was their mission to seek out North Vietnamese divisions that had infiltrated across the Cambodian border.

Enari routinely led his platoon on "search and destroy" missions, a term given to operations that would seek out heavily entrenched enemy units and assault their fortified positions.

On December 2, 1966, Enari led his platoon in an assault on one of these positions concealed in an area of dense trees. As the platoon advanced, heavy automatic weapons fire erupted from bunkers hidden at the base of the tree line. As the battle raged, Enari was continually subjected to intense enemy fire while commanding the operation.

In the heat of the fire fight, five soldiers were wounded and pinned down in an open area by machine gun fire. Realizing that his men would die without cover and medical attention, Mark Enari stormed the machine gun nest with a furious barrage of fire.

During his single-handed assault, the lieutenant was struck by both sniper and machine gun rounds but continued his attack in defense of the wounded.

The young officer pushed forward until succumbing to his wounds; he finally slumped to the ground. As a result of his action, the five men were saved. Lieutenant Enari was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for valor.

Camp Enari was officially named in his honor on General Orders of the 4th Infantry Division on 14 May 1967.

Mark Niggol Enari was born on 8 April 1942. His home of record was Pasadena, California.

His name is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the east wall, Panel 13E, Line 4.

The After Action Report for 1st Battalion 12th Infantry described the action in which Mark Enari was killed thus:

"02 December (Friday)
Alpha (107 men) and Bravo Companies depart their night positions at about the
same time (0730) with a mission to maneuver to the southwest and converge on
another piece of high terrain about 1700 meters away. At approximately 0900 Alpha
Company makes chance contact with a reinforced North Vietnamese platoon at
coordinate YA 580540 (Map 6437-2). Within an hour Bravo Company links up with
Alpha, and by 1230 both units are conducting a sweep over the enemy position,
resulting in 16 enemy KIAs and two prisoners of war. Friendly casualties are four
killed in action and 14 wounded."

Birth: Apr. 8, 1942, Estonia
Death: Dec. 2, 1966, Vietnam

Born in Estonia and in 1947 his father Dr. Enari was the Geislingen Estonians Jamboree Chairman, and Head of
the Department of Education, at the Geislingen Displaced Person's Camp in Germany. The family which consisted
of Dr. Enari, his wife and Mark emigrated to the U.S. in 1949 and settled in Pasadena, California. Mark grew
up there and graduated from Pasadena High School and attended Pasadena City College for one year. He enlisted
in the Army in 1961 and served a tour in Germany. He reenlisted for OCS and was commissioned a 2nd LT. in
1964. He completed parachute and Ranger training. He volunteered for Vietnam several times and finally as
assigned to the 4th Infantry Division. He was awarded a Silver Star for the actions which cost him his life.
Camp Enari in Vietnam which was the base Camp for the 4th Infantry Division was named for him.

Note: The reference above to Mark Enari graduating from Pasadena High School is incorrect.
Mark actually graduated in 1959 from Arcadia High School, in Arcadia, California.
Fred Childs, who served in Company C 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry 4th Infantry Division,
was a classmate of Mark Enari at Arcadia High School.

Fred served in Vietnam from July 1967 to July 1968, and was based out of Camp Enari,
the installation named for his classmate.

Fred contacted the 1st Battalion website and informed us of the correct
High School for Mark Enari.

Photos from the Arcadia High School 1959 yearbook

Left: Fred Childs

Right: Mark Enari

Both graduated as Seniors from Arcadia High in 1959
and both served in the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam.

Fred served in the Division 1967-1968.

Mark served in the Division 1966.

Photos courtesy of Fred Childs

Mark Enari was drafted into the Army in early 1961. He took his Basic Training at Fort Ord, California.
In late 1962, as a Private First Class stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, Mark was selected to attend
Officers Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Mark deployed to Vietnam with the advance party of the 4th Division by aircraft,
on July 19, 1966.

Burial:
Golden Gate National Cemetery
San Bruno
San Mateo County
California, USA
Plot: Section B Site 20A

Grave marker for Mark Niggol Enari
His Company is incorrectly inscribed.
It should read CO A.