THE WALL OF FACES

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If I should die, and leave you here awhile, be not like others, sore undone, who keep long vigils by the silentn dust, and weep...for MY sake, turn again to life, and smile...Nerving thy heart, and trtembling hand to do something to comfort other hearts than thine...Complete these dear, unfinished tasks of mine...and I, perchnace, may therein comfort you.

Brent Cordon Killed in Vietnam (Post-Register, Idaho Falls ID, Tuesday, 4 May 1971) Word has been received that U.S. Army Capt. R. Brent Cordon, 28, of Idaho Falls, was killed Sunday in Vietnam as the result of an exploding land mine, while he was in the process of repairing a road. Cordon had been in the Army the past several years, and was stationed in Vietnam last summer after volunteering for duty there. He had been scheduled to return to the United States in July. He was born 27 Sep 1942, in Idaho Falls. He was the son of Donna Harris Cordon of Pocatello. He had formerly lived in Ashton and was a onetime member of the Army National Guard's 116th Combat Engineer Battalion in Idaho Falls before going on active duty. At the time of his death, Cordon was with the Army's 188th Engineer Battalion. Word was unavailable as to further details of his death. Survivors include his parents; his maternal grandmother, Mrs. O.L. (Frone) Harris of Idaho Falls; and the following brothers and sisters; Mrs. Robert (Connie) Duncan of Las Vegas NV; Mrs. Jerry (Linda) Ralls of Howe; and Curtis and Kim Cordon, residing at the family home in Idaho Falls. The body will be shipped to Idaho Falls in approximately one week, the family has announced. Funeral services, and the name of the mortuary handling arrangements, will be announced later.

Ralph is buried at Pineview Cemetery, Ashton, Fremont County,ID.

I had the honor of serving with Brent as a missionary in Finland in 1963. Elder Cordon, as we called him, was a great guy. Full of life, one of his greatest virtues was caring for people. Brent was never on that just went along because he was suppose to, he always was true to himself. You were never quite sure what Brent would do. I remember one time when as 8 Mormon missionaries we decided to go out an eat in a restaurant, the type where the waited on you at the table.(This was very rare because we did not have much money and it was a real treat). Brent had not been in Finland very long and was not able to speak as well as he did later on in his mission. The word for a type of dessert was "mannapurro". Well Brent ordered that but his pronunciation must have not been that good. When the waitress came back, she had a plate, set it in front of him and on it was a pack of Marlboro cigarettes. Well, knowing Brent, no one was quite sure what his intention was, but when he blushed, it was a good laugh.

I am proud to have served with Brent in the Mission Field. I know those that served with him in battle must have felt the same. I thank God, I knew him and that someday we will all be together again. I am his friend.