THE WALL OF FACES

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO
By Weldon C. Smith Jr.
© 1982

Fifteen years ago
& half a world
away;
fifteen years ago
you died,
fifteen years today.

We'd grown together
you & I.
Learned to laugh,
learned to cry;
dug our caves,
& built rockets
that never seemed
to fly.

But away as a corpsman
you went to war
& there I felt you die;
a fleeting final thought
passed 'tween you and I.

I've searched for you though others
& in books about those times,
to find,
where and how you died,
to maybe answer,
why.
(I've even wished, sometimes, that you were I)

But my friend
I've not forgotten;
tho' your features
seem to fade, that
fifteen years ago
you died,
fifteen years today.

Dedicated to the memory of Hector Fuentes,
Corpsman 1st Bn, 9th Marines, 3rd MarDiv, III MAF 1967
Author: Medical Specialist/5, 168 Medical
Battalion, 65th Medical Group, South Korea 1967‑68

May those who served never be forgotten. Rest in peace HN. Fuentes, I salute your brave soul. My heart goes out to you and your family. Thank you "Doc"; Semper Fidelis!

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

Semper Fi, Doc