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 sunlight 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.

I served with chief Norman Gage in river division 552 at Tra Cu, my boat was about 1/2 mile from the spot where he was hit.We we’re set in ambushed position and monitored the situation by radio.Chief Gage was on my boat many times as patrol officer,he was a quiet guy and everybody liked him

Chief Petty Officer Norman Glenn Gage, Served aboard PBR-868 (Patrol Boat River 868), River Division 552 (RIVDIV-552), Task Force 116 (TF-116), United States Naval Forces Vietnam (USNAVFORV).

Dear CPO Norman Gage,
Thank you for your service as a Chief Radioman. Happy Halloween. 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.

In the evening of 23 February 1970, in Hau Nghia Province, 12 kilometers from Tra Cu City, Patrol Officers RMC Gage and BMC Wicklund with Boat Captains EN1 Girard in PBR-866, BM1 Cain in PBR-868, BM1 Studdsin PBR-870, and GMG2 Farley in PBR-706 were proceeding at idle speed to WBGP waiting for an artillery mission to be concluded when the boats were attacked by enemy unit using 75mm recoilless rifle. The first round fired by the enemy passed over the boats and exploded on the west bank of the river. One of the covering boats immediately opened fire on the east bank. As the attack continued, the lead boat, PBR-868, was hit by two, 75mm recoilless rifle rounds, one round hitting in the chief's quarters which damaged the radios and one round exploding in the coxswain's flat, which killed Patrol Office RMC Gage instantly and maimed Boat Captain Donald M. Cain.

The units continued to receive recoilless rifle and automatic weapons fire but this time from both banks. The wounded Boat Captain managed to turn his boat around and clear the kill zone. The Onboard Vietnamese gunner expended all his 50 Caliber ammunition, then manned an M-60 machine gun and took over the helm so that the rest of the crew could administer aid to the wounded Boat Captain.
The boats all cleared the kill zone but remained in the area.

A medevac helicopter (Dustoff) and artillery assistance was requested at 1937H, and Air Force Controller arrived on station and air elements worked over the area until 2120H, expending four , 5 hundred pound bombs, in addition to smaller caliber ammunition. Enemy Casualties were unknown.