THE WALL OF FACES

LCPL Charles T. Day, LCPL Thomas D. Grinnell III, LCPL Michael H. Kessel, and PFC Douglas E. Rauschenberg served with Headquarters & Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. On September 3, 1966, they were traveling south of Tuy Loan Bridge in Quang Nam Province, RVN, in a M422 Mighty Mite, a lightweight 4x4 tactical truck, when they hit a hostile mine. The four Marines were killed by the blast. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

My first encounter with Chuck was on mess duty after we got to Camp Pendleton. We were both in H&S Company, First Battalion, First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division. Chuck was a Wireman in the Communications Platoon, I was in the 106 Recoilless Rifle Platoon. We became good friends. On weekend evenings when he and Billy Mann were standing radio watch I would go to the radio shack and we would play three handed hearts long into the night. After we got to Vietnam the units were split up. I was transferred to Third Battalion, Third Marines in Chu-Lai. Chuck was already there. We were split up several times when each of us were attached out to the different line units we supported but wherever we were if Chuck saw me first I would hear him shout, "Hay Injun!" (I'm Native American). It would be a great reunion. We were together the night before he was killed. We only had eight days left. We planned to get together when we got home on leave. The next morning he and several others were blown up by what is now called an IED. I still miss him fifty years later. Between Billy (Carl W. Mann), Chuck and I; I was the only one who came home.

Semper Fi, Marine.

Dear LCPL Charles Tyrone Day, 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 LCPL Charles Tyrone Day, 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