THE WALL OF FACES

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Private First Class Kenneth Lee Conner, Served with Company B, 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.

Dear PFC Kenneth Conner,
Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. It is 2018, Happy New Year. It is so important for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

At 0945 hours on June 13, 1969, heavy casualties were sustained by Mobile Riverine Forces during an enemy-initiated firefight (ENIFF) which occurred on the Ben Tre River, four miles southeast of Ben Tre in Kien Hoa Province, RVN. Nine river assault craft (RAC) with Bravo Company of the 3/47th Infantry Battalion were enroute to a beaching site when they came under heavy B-40 rocket attack. Zippo flame-throwing boat Z-152-1 received four rocket hits, ATC 152-6 received two rocket hits, and ATC 152-11 received one. Fire was returned and momentarily suppressed. The RAC were forced to reverse course in order to facilitate evacuation of casualties; as they turned around they again came under attack from the same location. The RAC proceeded toward a fire support base (FSB) while 26 of the wounded were medevacked by an Army dustoff helicopter and the Navy Command and Control helicopter. Total friendly casualties were five soldiers killed, and 21 soldiers and four Navymen wounded. The lost soldiers included SP4 Thomas M. Aaron Jr., PFC Kenneth L. Conner, SSGT Michael K. Lewis, SP4 James C. Lucero, and SP4 Arturo Salazar. At the FSB, a company of the 3/47th replaced the decimated troops and returned to the ambush site. A company of the 3/60th was also airmobiled into the ambush area to conduct search and destroy operations which yielded no contact. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]