THE WALL OF FACES

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed...
We feel lucky to have seen it.

Dear PFC Richard Devine,
Thank you for your service as an Aircraft Structural Repairer. It has been too long, and it's about time for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Under the cover of darkness on January 10, 1968, North Vietnamese Army forces crept into Kotum Airfield in the Central Highlands in Kotum Province, RVN, and destroyed several aircraft, killed six Americans, and wounded 21 others. Between 2:04 to 2:35 AM, the enemy breached the perimeter and conducted a raid on the airfield with B-40 rockets, small arms fire, and satchel charges. The lost Americans included SP4 Loyde D. Armor, SP4 Thomas Carpenter Jr., PFC Richard D. Devine Jr., PFC Andres A. Gomez, PFC Robert W. Muncy, and SP4 Robert Pfeister. Seven UH-1H helicopters were destroyed, eight others damaged, and eight trucks damaged. At least five NVA were killed during the attack, some reportedly by explosions from their own satchel charges. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, redwarriors.us, and Pacific Stars & Stripes, January 11, 1968]

I still vividly remember you Dicky, even though you died 50 years ago yesterday. You were often in my family’s home hanging out with my older brother, Bob. Just a few weeks ago I visited the the National Viêt Nam Memorial WALL in Washington, DC with another of your neighborhood friends, Gordon Sheppard, to find your name on Panel 34, and recite a brief prayer. The last time you were in my family’s house, in September of 1967, you held my new-born baby-sister (Kate) in your arms and said, “I’ll never have a beautiful baby like this.” My Mother responded, saying “Oh Dick, you’ll have lots of babies someday.” Maybe You knew, but still determined to do your duty. Thank You for Your Service.

Richard, I never knew you, but I heard your name often before I went over to Central Highlands where you served and died. It was only after I returned that I could understand your sacrifice. Sorry we never met in life to have a beer to share our stories. Maybe in another life. Richard, please.........RIP.