THE WALL OF FACES

Semper Fidelis, Marine. Thank you for your courage on 16 August 1969 and for every day thereafter.

LCPL George M. Couch and PFC Clifford M. Gibson were riflemen assigned to F Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines. On August 16, 1969, they were on a search and clear patrol in the vicinity of Phu Loc Six, Quang Nam Province, RVN, when they came under hostile small arms fire. PFC Gibson was fatally wounded in the attack. LCPL Couch was wounded in the neck. The injury rendered him paralyzed, unable to use either his arms or legs. He was medically evacuated to the United States where he spent about a year in a Memphis, Tennessee veterans hospital. After being released, he returned to his parents’ new home which had been especially built with ramps instead of stairs to accommodate his electric wheelchair. On September 8, 1973, four years after being wounded, he died at his home in Morristown, TN. He was 23 years-old. In November 1984, his name was added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and the September 9, 1973 edition of the Daily Gazette-Mail, Morristown, TN]

Dear LCPL George Michael Couch, 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

George is buried at Emma Jarnagin Cemetery, Morristown, Hamblen County, TN.