THE WALL OF FACES

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

Miss you old friend some day we will shake hands and hug again.
Thinking of you and Judy on Memorial Day. Thanks for serving your country.
Your friend for ever
Rich Springs

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's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

From an old high school friend. Bill, I think about you often. God bless you and your family. May you rest in peace.

At 1:35 AM on August 19, 1969, the base camp of Headquarters, 3rd Brigade, U.S. 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), at a landing zone near Quan Loi in Binh Long Province, RVN, received a ground probe from an unknown-size enemy force using small arms and automatic weapons. The troopers fired back with unit weapons and were supported by artillery, helicopter gunships, and tanks from an element of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment collocated at the camp. At 2:00 AM, the enemy withdrew. Their losses were unknown. During the action, a Sheridan tank accidently fired on an American bunker near the northwest perimeter of the base. The discharged projectile was an anti-personnel “beehive” round which fires hundreds of tiny razor-sharp darts. Nine troopers were killed in the incident and another five were wounded. The lost Americans were SP4 Raymond J. Ashnault, SP4 Reginald W. Burris, PFC Gaspar Cruz-Lebron, SGT William J. Dawson, SP4 John A. Kolwyck, SP4 Jimmie Miller, PVT Joseph P. Mobus, SP4 Robert G. Solomon, and PFC Paul A. Sparks. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Tank Accident Kills 8 GIs.” Pacific Stars & Stripes, August 21, 1969]