THE WALL OF FACES

Marine Corps Recruit Depot
Parris, Island, SC
3d Recruit Training Battalion
Company 'Q'
Platoon 348

SSGT T.G. Roberts - Senior Drill Instructor
SSGT R.I. Henrikson - Junior Drill Instructor
SGT R.F. Corcoran - Junior Drill Instructor
SGT L.B. Cobb - Junior Drill Instructor
CPL J.M. Thomas III- Junior Drill Instructor

Three other members of Platoon 348 were KIA in Viet Nam.
CPL Stanley Maurice Godwin - Fort Meade, FL
LCPL Larry Ronald Havers - Allegany, NY
LCPL Frank Paul Jenkins Jr - Anniston, AL

Semper Fidelis, Marine!

I've have always remembered him. His mother was tutoring me in Elementary school when she got the news. Of course that ended. I named my first child Leslie after him. She was a girl so spelled a little differently. He was a good looking soldier. RIP Lesley.

Lesley was a friend of mine in Huntsville High School. We met again at Jerry's drive inn before we both deployed to Viet Nam. I survived, he did not. I read of his death in the Stars and Stipes newspaper. Since I came home, whenever I was " down", I have "channelled" Les. I never knew him as "down", so I can not be. So, after all these years, he is still alive. He is buried on the same "block" in Maple Hill Cemetery as my parents, sister and brother. So, every time I come back to Huntsville and visit thier graves, I visit his. Several times, I have left Viet Nam Veterans hats on his grave. He still lives through me. I hope that helps.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. Rest in eternal peace.

Lance Corporal Lesley Steven Ayers, Served with Battery A, 1st Battalion, 13th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. He was attached to Company D, 1st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, Third Marine Amphibious Force at the time he was killed in action.