THE WALL OF FACES

Petty Officer Third Class Charles Aaron Atwood Jr., Served aboard LCM-873 (Landing Craft Mechanized 873), Detachment Cua Viet, United States Naval Support Activity (DaNang), United States Naval Forces Vietnam (USNAVFORV).

Petty Officer Third Class Charles Aaaron Atwood Jr., Served with LCM-873 (Landing Craft Mechanized 873), Detachment Cua Viet, United States Naval Support Activity (DaNang), United States Naval Forces Vietnam (USNAVFORV).

DEAR PETTY OFFICER,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS AN ENGINEMAN, YOU WERE BORN ON MY MOM'S BIRTHDAY. SAY HI TO HER IN HEAVEN. HER NAME IS ROSE. WE ARE CELEBRATING COLUMBUS DAY, AND THE DISCOVERY THAT LED TO US BEING IN AMERICA. THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING AMERICA. REST IN PEACE.

Charlie,
I am now 74 years old with congestive heart failure, but never a day goes by that I don't think of you.
We lost too many guys up there, but you are the only one that still haunts me. I still wonder why you missed that turn off at the Dong Ha River.
Two weeks after you left I thought my time was up, but "Puff" and "The Jolly Green Giant" circled over us all night and helped us through the night.
I wrote the following several years ago at Christmastime while thinking of you,

Many, many years ago
In '68 and '9
I served a year in a far off land
They called it Viet-nam.
And every year, this time of year
I return there in my mind,
To fight old battles, and seek old friends
And hope that peace I find.
They were young, each mother's son
And they answered their country's call,
They did their best to stay alive
Yet still I watched them fall.
Tan-My, Cua-Viet, Dong-Ha too
I go to every place,
And try my best, although it's hard
To picture every face.
Sa-Hunyh, Danang, The city of Hue
And more I can't recall,
They fought with pride, and then they died,
These comrades gave their all.
So at this joyous time of year,
I'm ageless once again,
And with old friends who have gone away
In a distant, far off land.

I often wonder Charlie, why you and not me? Losing you was a big blow to the rest of us guys, but we can swap sea stories when we meet again.
Till then, God bless and fair winds.

L. Morris
ENCS, USN, RET.

Dear EN3 Charles Aaron Atwood Jr, 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, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter