THE WALL OF FACES

It is said a man hasn't died as long as he is remembered. This prayer is a way for families, friends and fellow veterans to remember our fallen brothers and sisters. 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 hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight, I am the stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there, I did not die

Pat and I became friends when we were both assigned to camp Honor Liggit in central Ca. He was a tall, thin, red haired kid. An only child that loved his parents. He had a good since of humor and a great outlook on life. He was a joy to know. We hit it off good and both wondered why were in the Army. He was the kind of guy I could have been friends for life with. In May of 1969, my unit with the 82nd had group meeting and talked about an ambush with the 199th that went wrong, instinctivly I knew Pat had to have been killed. I wrote the Sky Pilot for the 199th but never got an answer. When I came back to the states in Dec. and I hit LA, a sympathatic telephone operator helped jump some legal hurdles to help me find his parents. I stopped by to visit them before I returned to Houston. They were nice people, we cried and said good bye.
God Bless them.