THE WALL OF FACES

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.

Thank you, MGEN Dillard, for your years of service, not only in the Vietnam War but also in the Korean War and in WWII. When I saw your photo, my mom and I went back to family photos. We couldn't find you in them but you do have a family resemblance to my father(who passed away in 2015) and my grandfather(who passed away in 1998). I am almost certain we are distantly related all the way to Jamestown, VA. I, correction, We thank you for your service to the United States of America.
Sincerely,
N. Dillard

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Colonel (Corps of Engineers) John A. B. Dillard, Jr., United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from February 1963 to June 1965.

My husband, CPT Randall E Campbell was one of the Engineers sent to recover your body and those of the others. He told me later how scared he was knowing what a dangerous place the crash site was, but also how important it was to retrieve our lost men before the VC etc had the chance to use the bodies to humiliate the Americans and to show off how easily their enemy could 'defeat' them. My husband and the others went and were proud to be able to honor each of the men killed by bringing them back.
My husband was at Ben Het so he understood what it takes to be a real soldier like MG Dillard. They are now all together where there is no more war.

Gen. Dillard had just visited our jobsite, the reconstruction and paving of QL 14S. This was the only time I had met him, and I remember him asking insightful questions about the project and difficulties we were having with security and getting resupplied this far from the coast. He promised to try to improve our situation. I was a 1st Lt. in charge of rebuilding the road bed and improving drainage. A short time after he left our site, we received word that his Huey had called in an emergency and then lost contact. We were notified of the crash and provided help in securing the site. A sad loss for the US Army and his family.