THE WALL OF FACES

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

Private First Class Allen James Avery, Served with Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

On February 14, 1966, a column of U.S. Marine Corps LVTP-5 amphibious armored fighting vehicles (AmTracs) were returning from an operation when AmTrac B-12 hit a mine three miles southwest of Nam-O Bridge in Quang Nam Province, RVN. The 11:00 AM explosion knocked the 44-ton AmTrac on its side before becoming engulfed in flames. A total of nine Marines and one Army of the Republic of Vietnam soldier perished in the incident. All suffered multiple extreme burn and blast injuries. Another sixteen Marines and one Navy personnel were wounded. The lost Marines included PFC Allen J. Avery, PFC Frank E. Crabbe, CPL Herbert G. Goggan, PFC Richard E. Marks, PFC Eli W. Nichols, PFC Adan M. Olvera, CPL Jack Rabinovitz, PVT Waymond N. Stephenson, and LCPL Bobby R. Wayman. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

I served with Avery in Vietnam. He Was a good Friend. I have thought of him and the others that were with him on that fateful day often in the 53 years since. My best to their Families and Friends SEMPER FI OLE FRIEND. See you on the LZ.

DEAR PFC AVERY,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A GRUNT. SEMPER FI. WE ARE CELEBRATING COLUMBUS DAY, AND THE DISCOVERY THAT LED TO US BEING IN AMERICA. THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING AMERICA. REST IN PEACE.