THE WALL OF FACES

Brothers In Arms

Brave Women and Men
All Brothers in arms
Called from the cities,
The fertile fields of farms

Our Grandparents,
Fathers and Mothers
Sisters and Brothers,
Sons and Daughters

Brave Women and Men
Who answered the call
Many returned home,
While others did fall

War after war
With each generation
America’s finest
Sacrificed for our Nation

Hold sacred their memory
And the freedoms they gave
Say a thankful prayer
When you visit their grave

These brave veterans
America’s own
Remembered forever
On granite, bronze and stone

2000 John Wayne Droneburg all rights reserved

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.

Gary, I remember you telling me not to join the army. Well I did and we both wound up in the same place, RVN in 67. It’s been a long time since those high school days but we will see each other again soon. RIP my brother.

Bien Hoa Air Base was a joint operating base for the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) and U.S. Air Force. The airfield was located in southcentral Vietnam about sixteen miles from Saigon across from the Dong Nai River. At approximately 1:01 AM on May 12, 1967, Bien Hoa Air Base and the surrounding area was subjected to a Viet Cong attack by 82mm mortars, 75mm recoilless rifle rounds, and 122mm rockets. The enemy expended 203 rounds during the nine-minute attack. The base received 189 known hits with fourteen more strikes occurring off base. U.S. casualties were six killed, twenty-three hospitalized, and fifty-four treated and released. The lost U.S. personnel included four airmen: A2C Gary W. Cosgrave, A2C Horace A. Holbrook, A1C Lawrence E. Lewis, and A3C Eddie Manis; also killed were U.S. Army drivers SP5 Phillip A. Strizzi and SP4 James E. Washington from A Company, 1st Supply and Transport Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and Project CHECO Report, January-June 1967]

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.