THE WALL OF FACES

Never forget.

Semper Fortis

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Dear EN2 Ernest Cota,
Thank you for your service as a Engineman 2nd Class from the U.S.S. HARNETT COUNTY. You are still MIA. Please come home.
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.

Dear EN2 Ernest Keno Cota, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter

Petty Officer Ernest K. Cota was assigned to the USS HARNETT COUNTY (LST 821) on station in South Vietnam. The HARNETT COUNTY was anchored on the Bassac River some 2000 yards upriver from the Naval Supply Activity Detachment Base at Binh Thuy, Repulic of Vietnam, and had been on station on the Bassac River since April 12, 1968. At about 1800 hours on May 14, EN2 Cota and other members of the crew left the ship on liberty at the NAVSUPPACT Det Binh Thuy Enlisted Club. Fellow crewmembers were later to make statements that EN2 Cota had consumed a quantity of beer and was in good spirits. At 22:30 hours there was a disturbance at the Binh Thuy boat landing with men returning to the HARNETT COUNTY later said to have been caused by the intoxicated EN2 Cota. Ten minutes later, an LCM departed the landing for the HARNETT COUNTY. About 600 yards upriver from the landing, EN2 Cota fell over the port side of the LCM at a point about 300 yards from the south bank of the Bassac River. Several crewmembers from the LCM immediately entered the water in an attempt to find and rescue EN2 Cota, but with the darkness and strong ebb current, the personnel in the water only confused and complicated rescue efforts as it was impossible to determine the identity of the swimmers. Shortly afterwards, a helicopter from the HARNETT COUNTY joined the search, dropping flares in the area. The search was continued until about 3:00 a.m. May 15, 1968, then concluded, but EN2 Cota was never recovered. The considered opinion of the Commanding Officer of the USS HARNETT COUNTY was that the possibility of Cota's survival was remote, and with the darkness and strong ebb current in the river, it was suspected that Cota drowned and his body was not recoverable. On May 28, Cota's status was changed from Missing in Action to Determined Dead. EN2 Cota is listed among the missing because his remains were never found to send home to the country he served. [Taken from pownetwork.org]