THE WALL OF FACES

Private First Class Gordon Kaye Gathman, Served with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

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.

As a fellow in country Vietnam veteran am all to familiar with combat losses. Gordon was a high school classmate and his tragic loss is not forgotten. Bill McDonald 1968-69 and 72.

On September 20, 1970, a 4th Infantry soldier ran wild through his company area at Camp Radcliff in An Khe, Binh Dinh Province, RVN, firing an M16 rifle, killing two fellow soldiers and wounding another before being tackled and subdued. The incident began when an enlisted man had entered the company orderly room and demanded a company driver to take him to see the chaplain. The driver refused on the grounds the enlisted man did not have a trip ticket. SP4 Willie L. Clayborne of C Company, 2nd Battalion (Mechanized), 8th Infantry, allegedly entered the argument against the driver and started boasting he would shoot up the area. Clayborne was allegedly drunk at the time. The company commander tried to calm Clayborne and apparently had succeeded. Clayborne left, saying he was going to his hooch to get a shirt. Instead, Clayborne reportedly went to the arms room, kicked down the door, grabbed an M16 rifle, and started shooting wildly in the area. One of the bullets struck a senior NCO, SFC Joe Pena Jr., in the back of the head, killing him instantly. Another round struck an enlisted man, PFC Gordon K. Gatham, in the stomach. He was taken to the 8th Evacuation Hospital and later died. A third enlisted man was struck by two bullets in the left arm. Clayborne moved between a row of buildings, still firing, when he was tackled from behind, ending the rampage. He was arrested and taken to the Long Binh jail. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “GI’s Shooting Spree Kills 2 on Base.” Pacific Stars & Stripes, September 25, 1970]

Dear PFC Gordon Gathman,
Thank you for your service as an General Vehicle Repairman. Happy Thanksgiving. 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.