THE WALL OF FACES

If any of John Ervin's family wants to know the details of John's final moments, contact me. The explosion put me in the hospital for a week. Respectfully, Mike Archer
John Lee Ervin,

Specialist Four John Lee Ervin, Served with the 3rd Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry Regiment, 198th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, United States Army Vietnam.

John was a neighbor kid in Springfield. Such a sweetheart.Quiet, just an all around nice guy. So sad that he never got a chance to get married and do all the things he should have done.

Dear Sp4 John Ervin,
Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. You are on the same panel as Mike, say hi to him in heaven. We remember all you who gave their all. 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.

Butch (John) was my best friend for several years before he was drafted to the military. Our family had horses, and I met Butch for the first time at the Springfield Fairgrounds where his family was stabled down the building from ours. I had brought the wrong key to get to the hay, and Butch climbed the tall wall to get to our hay, saving me a trip home to get the right key. That was a very good day, because we met.
During the summer, he would ride his appaloosa horse over to my house to collect me and my horse, and we would ride through the subdivision and talk and talk and talk. He made me laugh. Yes, I heard his jokes about Mae West, and his love of "The Duke", John Wayne. He stayed until late at night, talking on our 'second driveway', then ride home (dangerously) in the pitch dark on the country roads, uncomplaining about the danger. I so looked forward to him getting out of Vietnam for good, and we both were counting down the days. My Dad went to the feed store and was told Butch had been killed. So he came home and told me, and I was DEVASTATED.
I cried so hard and so long my parents threatened to send me to a mental institution if I didn't quit crying and eat something. Needless to say, they had no compassion at all.
I so admired Butch - he went into the army in the draft although he said he couldn't imagine killing another human being. I told him it was his patriotic duty to go; I never expected him to die! Anyway, so he became a radio operator, and he lugged a very heavy radio with a long antenna over his head, pointing him out to the enemy. He had to walk in front with his Commanding Officer, and that's why they stepped on the land mine at the head of the line. Butch was the soul of encouragement, kind, gentle. I used to drive by the pasture where his family kept the horses, and I would see his appaloosa out there, probably missing Butch, too. Butch truly lived what he believed. He seemed wise beyond his years.
He was my dearest friend. I expect him to be one of the first people I see when I get to heaven (I am a born again Christian). He was way too young to die. After he died and I found out he had died, his letters kept coming. We wrote back and forth several times a week. I hoped against hope he was still alive, that a mistake had been made, because the letters kept coming. I miss you, Butch. I left a yellow rose on your grave, no dandelions for you! - so incredibly sorry you died before your adult life had begun.