THE WALL OF FACES

Dear PFC Michael First,
Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Tuesday is the 17th anniversary of 9/11, 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.

My name is Carolyn j. Bearden and Michael I fell in love and were going to get married, then I receivedtelgram that Michael was killed. I was proud that he was a HERO, and thathe helped to save hundreds of U.S. serviceman but I stil wish he hadn't gone. I have trying ti reach Michael's family. I just wanted his family know about Michael's having a son. Please,I hope one of you relatedto him, even a Friend. Thank you Carolyn

I loved Michael very much, and he loved me. We planned to get married when he got home. After he was sent to Vietnam,we wrote each often, and we talked about our future together. I didn"t know I was pregnant until I was four months along. I wrote to let Michael know. I waited for weeks. I gave birth to his son May 10, 1971. His name his Michael Anthony Bearden ( my maiden name). He's a good man ,much like Michael Bruce. I got a telegram telling me what happened. I was a basket case when I read thathe killed on Feb. 8th. I'm trying to reach the family and hoping someone would contact me. #813 693 7601

SGT Lonald R. Coleman, PFC Michael B. First, SSGT Gerald J. Tworek, and SP4 James S. McGough were members of 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry out of Quang Tri Combat Base. On February 8th, 1971, SGT Coleman was leading a squad consisting of PFC First and SSGT Tworek which entered an NVA position concealing a communications relay station on the Laotian border. In an engagement with enemy elements, all three soldiers were fatally wounded. Enemy intelligence, records and equipment obtained at the cost of their lives saved many Americans participating in the ARVN operation, Lam Son 719. SP4 Jim S. McGough, who usually was on point, but wasn't for this day, was wounded when he rushed forward to assist his beleaguered comrades. When he was hospitalized in Okinawa the day after his evacuation, he received a blood transfusion that infected him with Hepatitis C. It would be years before he was diagnosed with the disease. He died on January 3, 2014, as a result of complications from his combat wounds. His name was approved to be added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in May 2016. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and virtualwall.org]

Dear Michael,
You Have Not Been Forgotten!

The Society of the Fifth Division, U.S. Army, during its 95th Annual Reunion in Pittsburgh, PA (Sept 10-14, 2015) , held a Reading of the Names Ceremony to honor the 514 Soldiers from the 5th Division that were Killed in Action during the War in Vietnam. Your Name Was Read Aloud Among Those Soldiers. You Have Not Been Forgotten! Rest in Peace, Dear Brother.

Thomas Grafton
Alpha company, 7th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division
Vietnam (1968-1969)