THE WALL OF FACES

Specialist Four Stephen Louis Gari, Served with the 526th Collection Classification and Storage Company (CC&S), 5th Maintenance Battalion (Direct Support), United States Army Vietnam.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your brother Charles is moving and reflects his admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

May those who served never be forgotten. We can never truly repay the great debt we owe our fallen heroes. Rest in peace SP4. Gari, I salute your brave soul. My heart goes out to you and your family.

As your 70th birthday approaches, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

On August 28, 1971, a shooting incident took place at Binh Thuy Army Base in Phong Dinh Province, RVN. A U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division investigation into the incident disclosed that about 9:30 PM, in the shower area of the latrine located on the base floor of building 1887, 228th Supply and Service Company, a gunman fired an M16 rifle at SP4 Curtis L. Nelson, fatally wounding him in the chest and right hip. The shooter fled the scene and ran through the main gate of the army base, pursued by two security policemen. At 10:20 PM, the assailant was observed walking in the direction of Can Tho near an Army of the Republic of Vietnam ammunition dump carrying an M16 rifle. An attempt was made to physically disarm the shooter, who broke loose and fired at a security policeman, SP4 Stephen L. Gari, fatally wounding him in the left chest. The gunman then ran in the direction of Can Tho when he was fired on by two military policemen who fired about five rounds each. He was stopped after being struck in the chest and lower abdomen. The gunman was subsequently transported to the 3rd Surgical Hospital for treatment. Gari was pronounced dead on arrival at the same hospital as a result of a gunshot wound which penetrated his liver. On September 20, 1971, the gunman, who was in satisfactory condition, was medically evacuated to the U.S. Army Hospital at Camp Zama, Japan for further medical treatment. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and Army CID investigation documents]