THE WALL OF FACES

Dear SP4 Robert Douglas Anderson, 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, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

Dear Robert, to honor your memory and the sacrifice you made for your country I want to make sure your photo will be displayed on your birthday each and every year when the Education Center is completed, so it is with great pride and humility that I post this remembrance and picture of you. You are not forgotten and remain in the hearts of many all these years later. You have been designated to be one of God's special angels, along with the love of my life, who also sacrificed his life during this war 45 years ago. God Bless You, Robert, for being who you were and for all you did--we live in freedom to this day thanks to heroes like you.

The La Sierra High School Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located on the grounds of the Earl J. Koobs Nature Study Area, adjacent to Garfield Elementary School in Carmichael, CA. The memorial is dedicated to 14 former students of La Sierra High School who lost their lives in Vietnam. The land for the nature area was purchased by students from La Sierra High School and Garfield Elementary in 1971. It was dedicated to Earl J. Koobs in 1973, to honor his inspiration for and dedication to the area. The La Sierra High School Vietnam Veterans Memorial was created the same year and is one of the first known Vietnam memorials in California. It was crafted in the high school metal shop by students wanting to remember their classmates lost during the war. While access to site is limited, each Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day a ceremony takes place honoring those who sacrificed their lives for their country. The above picture demonstrates the amphitheater-style setting of the memorial. In the bottom image, the names of the 14 soldiers who lost their lives in Vietnam include the name of Jerry Cowsert, a former La Sierra student who was killed in a basic training accident.

Aircraft 64-13836 was hit with .51 caliber machine gun fire while at hover. Crew member CPT Robert T. Hooker was wounded by the shattered windshield and rescued. WO Chellis was wounded by a .51 caliber round going through his armored seat. SP4 Robert D. Anderson was hit in the groin and bled to death. Another crew member SFC Danziel Marcantel was also rescued. Crash occurred while supporting 327 Inf 101 ABN. [Taken from vhpa.org]

He was the platoon leader in our class..He was sharp and could have been anything he wanted to be if he would have come home..We went to vietnam together and he ended up in another outfit when we arrived in country never was to see him again..He wanted to be home and when we heard the news of his death I felt a great loss even though I knew him for about six months.I am 59 years old and I still think of him