THE WALL OF FACES

I have worn your bracelet for 20 years. I got it from the Vietnam Vet Center in Sioux City, Iowa. My heart and prayers have been with you and will be with you forever. God bless you and your family. And finally, THANK YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOR THE SACRIFICES YOU MADE FOR ME. I AM FROM NEOLA, IOWA BUT HAVE LIVED IN KENTUCKY FOR 11 YEARS. PEACE AND GODSPEED.

Bradley, I too wore your name on my wrist every day. It was the 'popular' thing to do when I was in junior high school. I didn't expect to care so deeply for you and wonder what had happened, where you were, how you were, how your family was dealing with you disappearing on your 28th birthday. As a mother of 3, I cannot imagine the pain your parents went through. Were you married? Are there any little Cuthberts out there all grown up? Please understand that my father was in Vietnam at the same time, all my friends had fathers in the war. My friend, Keith, his dad was KIA. The day we all learned we were in 7th grade; it was stunning. When the war was over and the POWs were coming out I scanned the lists in the newspaper every day, I watched every news soundbyte I could. Always scanning for Capt. Bradley Cuthbert. (I see you're now a Major - congratulations on the promotion. My brother was recently promoted to full bird Colonel.) Whenever I see POW, or Purple Heart, or Silver Star... on license plates, I am immediately humbled. I've been to the wall several times. It is such a unique tribute to the fallen and so well-visited, it's hard to remember the controversy that surrounded it 20 years ago. I wonder what you would think of it. It's powerful. More so than people anticipate. It's reverant. It is holy ground. And I have yet to take a rubbing of your name away with me. I'm want to do what Melody did; take the rubbing & leave the bracelet. And I will make certain my children participate. They're 14, 13, & 12 - they've seen your bracelet in my jewelry box and asked about it, and then about you. I did call the National Park Service years ago to see if I could find any information about your family because I wanted to send my bracelet to them. I don't know what good it would do them, for me it would allow a more personal connection. Without my bracelet you would never have entered my life. Thank you Bradley for being a constant reminder of what is important in our lives; freedom, living each day to the fullest,taking simple pleasure in sunshine & life. Always, November 23 - Happy Birthday! You are missed. Shelley

Dear Bradley,I never met you, I never knew what you looked like, or ever heard your voice but I some how felt that I knew you. I wore your name around my wrist for so many years. Each day I would look at my wrist and see your name and think of you even if for only a small part of my day. People would often ask and I would tell them of you and that you were missing and we never wanted anyone to forget about you. There came a day when we had to starat healing the many wounds of that war and I put your braclet in my jewelry box where it stays to this day. WHen we would talk of Vietnam in our home I would always talk of you and how I had worn your braclet all those years. I always prayed that you had come home to your family and your life. I never knew until three years ago when I went with my two son's to Washington. D.C., for a Boy Scout Jamboree. I had promised myself many years ago that if I ever got to Washington that I would go to the wall and pray I didn't find you there. I was also going to look for my husbands cousin who I knew was there. My husband refused to go to the wall, but I had to go. it was a promise that I had made to myself and you many years ago when the wall was first built. I took my sons and we looked through the many pages of names of the boys who paid the ultimate sacrafice for their country. I cried when I found your name for all those years I had told myself that you had to have come home. I took home in my photo's of our trip a picture of your name with my son's reflections over it. I was sad when I saw you had not come home but some how even sadder to find that you were missing in action. I pray that somehow you and your family have found peace. I for one will never forget your sacrafice and will always honor your name.Your Friend Always,Melody

I was five years old in1958 when you went off to Annapolis. I still have the midshipman cap you sent me then. I remember your telling me that you would someday nominate me as Queen at the Army-Navy game. You were my first hero.
I was nearly ten years old when you married. Mom had to take me over to the park because I was crying so hard...you were supposed to marry me, you know!
I was fifteen years old when Dad walked into the multi-purpose room to tell me that if anyone could make it out alive it would be you.
Mom walked around the park again with me the day of the memorial service.
Now I'm principal of a school and every year I take the 8th grade to the wall. I tell them about the war, about heroes, and about you. I show them your hat and hope that they will learn from what I have to say.

I will remember your name forever. I don't know what you look like or anything else about you, but I wore your name.

I didn't understand the war or the reasons behind the fighting. I was just a naive freshman in high school. I only knew that our men were far away representing our country. You deserved our respect.

I wore a bracelet with your name on it until the coating wore off... and still I wore it.... it never came off my wrist... it finally broke in half after almost three years. Then I carried it in my purse... I kept watching the papers for your name... hoping to find out that you had been found... Hoping that you had been reunited with your family. We owe you a debt that can never be repaid. We owe your family a debt that can never be repaid.

I visited the traveling wall in Oregon and found your name. I still have the rubbing. I left you the the bracelet.

Rest in Peace. I will remember your name forever.

Cheryl L