Albert served as a - Corporal - Grade E3 - Army - Drafted Selective Service
He was 20 years old at the time of his death
Al was born on July 15, 1947 in Phillipsburg, NJ.
His tour of duty began in Vietnam on Nov. 12, 1967
Al served with Company C , 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Divison
Al died on April 2, 1968, at 4:00 PM. , in Dinh Tuong Province, South Vietnam
His death was a result of head wounds suffered from fragmentation metal from an enemy booby trap. He died a short time later in the 24th Medical Evac. Hospital in Long Binh, Republic of South Vietnam. It happened in a place called Ben Tre. Al and his platoon were working out of their Division base camp,
(Dong Tam). It was a platoon operation and Red was walking the point position. The platoon entered into a wooded area. As Red crossed a stream the VC blew a Chinese claymore mine they had placed in the trees. Red sustained head injuries and was med-evaced out with a dust-off helicopter. There were a total of 13 injured and one Kia'd that day, little Red.
"Incident as remembered by John Ledsome, fellow platoon member"
Al is interred in the United Presbyterian Cemetery Alpha, New Jersey
His body was recovered
Al's religion was Presbyterian. He was not married
Al attended Phillipsburg High School in 1965
Al's name is listed on Panel 47E --- Line 43
of the Vietnam War Memoral in Washington D.C.
"Rest In Peace Albert You Are Missed By All Who Knew You"
Albert "Red" Shiller, 3rd from the front, on patrol in the Cam Son District during Operation Coronado IX in 1967. "Little Red" as his fellow soldier brothers called him, made the cover of the 9th division "Octofoll" publication in Vietnam. The photo was shot by combat photographer Sp4 Donald Cordi, as remembered by his friend Sgt. David Warner.
Albert Shiller came from the small farm community of Springtown, New Jersey. He was one of 5 children. Al left two brothers and two sisters. Ironically Al's younger sister would perish in an auto accident at the age of 13. Springtown is one of those small villages, where every one knows everyone else. They all knew "Little Red" and watched him go off to war. Al served his Flag and Country with Honor and Valor. That service to this Country earned him the following awards:
Purple Heart for wounds received in an armed conflict.
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Service Medal
The Republic of Vietnam, Military Merit Medal
The Republic of Vietnam,Gallantry Cross with Palm
Good Conduct Medal
The Combat Infantryman Badge
On May 10, 2003 the friends and classmates of Albert Shiller erected a Memorial for him and two other Heroes, Robert Bacon, and Arthur Rowe, all causalities of the Vietnam War, that were residents of Pohatcong Township, Warren County, N.J.
