THE WALL OF FACES

George Marchese
applebonz@yahoo.com
served with Him
17, wilsonview place, Staten Island, new york, 10304, USA.

Bravest Guy, I ever Knew Why today ... i don't know, woke up, at 2, a.m. and you, were, on my mind. You were, the hot shot kid, from new jersey and I was, the hot shot, from brooklyn. we bumped heads, a few time, in pleku, or dak to,but we shared, a mutual respect, for each other, but I'll never forget, your bravery, as you successfully stopped, the nva, from overrunning, our position. As I and my fellow grunts, fired, from our foxhole, (aimlessly) you were, out there, lobbing grenades and firing precisely, with the m-60, machine gun, Audy Murphy, style and when the gun, jammed, you came, to my hole, for my gun and used it, till it, ran out of ammo, you came back, to me and finally, got me out of the foxhole, to find machine gun ammo, after scurring around, for 60 seconds, or so, you got, the ammo and I went back, to my foxhole, begging you, to get down! Bullets, were whizzing, by you and tree branches, were being shot off, where you stood, the firing was intense, you directed me, to throw grenades from the safety of my hole, by this time, I was in someone elses foxhole. YOU were doing, a helluva, job and with your buddies, held off, the advance and slowed, the heavy firing, from the nva. But then the worse thing happened........ YOU WENT DOWN ...HARD! WHILE BLAZING AWAY, WITH ANOTHER M-60, SHOOTING, FROM THE HIP, FROM THE SIDE, OF YOUR FOXHOLE ...... NO HELMET! WHERE, DID YOU, DROP IT? SILENCE, WHICH SEEMED, VERY EERIE. I CLIMBED, OUTTA MY HOLE AND CRAWLED, OVER TO YOU ............ YOU WERE GONE ........... I jumped, in your foxhole, as the firing resumed, from the nva. they were firing, at the other foxholes and positions, now that you were knocked out. Some of our guys came out and helped to get you out of the line of fire but it was to late and Without you, we now had to retreat, to the captains bunker, where, he was frantically, trying to call in air support and finally succeded. we continued, to fight till daylight from the big bunker, until ground support, showed up. finally it ended, Why today, so many years later, Does it come back to me so clearly I don't know. FORGET NAMING A BRIDGE AFTER YOU, THEY SHOULD NAME, THE TOWN, AFTER YOU!!!! I'LL, NEVER FORGET YOU........GOD'S PEACE TO YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS .............REST IN PEACE"HERO" REST IN PEACE

Dear SGT Thomas Alan Ackerman, 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, Sir

Curt Carter

DEAR SGT. ACKERMAN,

This is the week we are celebrating our nation's birthday. It is only fitting that we remember you, and the ultimate sacrifice you gave to our nation.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

REST IN PEACE.

Tom, we spent 4 years in homeroom together in high school and though we were not close friends, you will never be forgotten. You are remembered at every reunion we have had.

Picture of Thomas Ackerman. To see the rest of his profile from the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation please visit www.njvvmf.org.