THE WALL OF FACES

Rest In Peace! It was my Honor, to escort you back home! Sgt Longoria

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. May you rest in eternal peace.

Private First Class Michael Blake Finn, Served with Company C, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, United States Army Vietnam.

PFC Michael B. Finn was an infantryman serving with C Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. In the early morning of July 21, 1969, PFC Finn was part of the lead unit of a Company-sized patrol five miles northwest of Tien Puoc. The Company was in the midst of a three-week sweep and clear operation in Quang Tin Province, RVN. Finn was the third man in line in the point squad when a booby-trapped hand grenade was detonated. It was believed that the booby-trap was set with a delayed fuse and had been triggered by the point man but didn’t explode until Finn had moved forward into the “kill zone.” He was critically injured in the blast and medivac assistance was requested. Because of the Company’s location and the limitations of the radio equipment the RTO was carrying, there was difficulty communicating with the evacuation helicopter. The RTO put up as much antenna as he had and was able to guide the aircraft to their location. He next deployed a M18 colored smoke grenade. The aircrew confirmed the color and landed, and Finn was put aboard. He reportedly went into shock on the return flight and died before reaching a medical facility. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Ron Kociba (August 2019)]

Dear PFC Michael Finn,
Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Labor Day just passed, and we remember you 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.