THE WALL OF FACES

I'll never forget our youth

we were great friends

On the morning of 2 May 1968, a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam to gather intelligence information about confirmed large-scale enemy activity. This area was controlled and routinely patrolled by the North Vietnamese Army. After a short period of time on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance, and requested emergency extraction. WO1 Larry S. McKibben was killed by an enemy bullet as he attempted to exit a landing zone after wounded soldiers had been loaded on his helicopter by SSG Roy P. Benadvides, 5th Special Forces Group who won the Medal of Honor for his actions on this day. NVA were charging the aircraft, but WO1 McKibben would not leave without the wounded. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Other personnel involved in this incident were SP4 Michael D. Craig (KIA), SP4 Nelson E. Fournier (KIA), and CW2 William Fernan (rescued). Note: CW2 Fernan was killed three months later while on board a UH-1C helicopter which crashed during a flight through bad weather in Song Be Province. [Taken from vhpa.org and en.wikipedia.org]

Michael is buried at Resurrection Cemetery, South San Gabriel,CA. DFC AM BSM PH

A portion of Sepulveda Boulevard/State Highway Route 1 in El Segundo near Los Angeles International Airport has been dedicated to the residents of Los Angeles County who served in Vietnam. This section of highway is now designated the Los Angeles County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. Adopted by the California State Legislature in 2000, the highway honors the more than 350,000 California veterans who served in the Vietnam War, including the 5,822 killed or missing in action. Los Angeles County has the largest number of Vietnam veterans in California and 1,857 of its residents were killed or missing in action during that war. This memorial corridor provides a fitting and proper way for the residents of Los Angeles County to express their gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifices these Vietnam veterans have made for their country.

It is said a man hasn't died as long as he is remembered. This prayer is a way for families, friends and fellow veterans to remember our fallen brothers and sisters. 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 hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight, I am the stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there, I did not die