THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Soldier, I want to thank you for the great
sacrifice that you have paid for the freedom of every
American citizen. I am a student at Gridley High
School in Gridley Illinois and we are doing this as a
Gridley High School Posting Project for world history.
I on the other hand am doing this as much more than
just a student with another assignment that has to be
done. To me this means a lot more because I had an
uncle that was in the Vietnam War, and he about lost
his life in battle. I appreciate the actions that you took in trying to keep our country safe and secure.
It is just a great feeling to know that we are being
protected by people like you that are willing to lay
it all down on the line and pay the ultimate sacrifice
for this reason. I thank you again and may God Bless.

Although we never met personally, I want to thank you Allan Paul Firmneck, for your courageous and valiant service, faithful contribution, and most holy sacrifice, given to this great country of ours!

Your Spirit is alive--and strong, therefore, you shall never be forgotten, nor has your death been in vain!

Again, thank you Doc Firmneck, for a job well done!

FAIR WINDS, AND ETERNAL PEACE MY FRIEND

"An God said who shall we send.I answered I am here,send me."

Isaiah 6:8

Rest in Peace "Doc"

John Bruneel, HMCM USN (Ret)



"I'm the One Called "Doc…"


I shall not walk in your footsteps,
but I will walk by your side.
I shall not walk in your image,
I've earned my own title of pride.
We've answered the call together,
on sea and foreign land.
When the cry for help was given,
I've been there right at hand.
Whether I am on the ocean
or in the jungle wearing greens,
Giving aid to my fellow man,
be it Sailors or Marines.
So the next time you see a corpsman
and you thing of calling him "squid",
Think of the job he's doing
as those before him did.
And if you ever have to go out there
and you life is on the block,
Look at the one right next to you…
I'm the one called "Doc".


Harry D. Penny, Jr. HMC(AC)USN
Copyright 1975

"Permission to reprint granted
by the author/copyright owner".

Allan and I met at Hospital Corps school. Both of us being from Connecticut, I suppose it was inevitable that we'd become friends. We spent time together on leave, mulling over our chances of being sent to a company of "grunts" in Vietnam.

When that day arrived, we hoped we would serve together. Although in the same Division, we were assigned to different Battalions. Allan and I saw each other for the last time while we were each on a 12-hour pass in Danang. We talked about the "old days" and how each of us was getting along in our respective units. Allan died of an enemy gunshot wound a week later.

I know it sounds trite, but I think of Allan every day. He was a fun-loving guy who could lift your spirits when you desperately needed it. He was a first-rate Corpsman who took his job very seriously. People like Allan are in short supply. I felt better just being around him. The real tragedy is the fact that his shining light was extinguished much too soon. Semper Fi, Allan, you will always be more than just a name on a wall.