THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for fighting for freedom! You have made a difference in the world! RIP

June 6, 2023, marks the 79th Anniversary of one of the biggest events in world history, the Allied invasion of Normandy, France in 1944 during World War II (better known as D-Day). There was another significant event that took place that day, which I will never forget.
Fifty-four years ago, on June 6, 1969, my cousin Bill Crusie of Wappingers Falls, NY was killed on a remote battlefield 8,772 miles from home in Vietnam. He was 21 years old.
Bill and two other soldiers were on patrol and only 50 meters from returning safely back to their unit at Fire Support Base (FSB) Crook in Tay Ninh Province when mortars fell around them. Bill didn’t make it!!!
I was a senior in high school when our family received the awful news. We heard that Bill died in a mortar attack, but over the years I wondered about the exact circumstances surrounding his death.
Almost 10 years ago, I noticed a post that Norm Bergsma wrote on Bill’s Virtual Veterans Wall of Faces page. Norm was with Bill the night he was killed and was interested in hearing from anyone who knew him.
I found Norm’s telephone number and contacted him at his home in Burlington, WA. After some initial hesitation, he agreed to talk about Bill, the battle at FSB Crook, and the impact Bill had on his life.
Norm sent three lengthy emails describing how he met Bill during the processing period in Vietnam and how they made their way to FSB Crook. Norm passed away in 2014 at the age of 65.
Thank you for your service to a grateful nation Bill and Norm - I hope you have enjoyed your reunions in heaven.

Private First Class William Michael Crusie Jr., Served with Company B, 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

May those who served never be forgotten. Rest in peace PFC. Crusie, I salute your brave soul. My heart goes out to you and your family.

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.