THE WALL OF FACES

HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN 64. The words to the song "WHO YOU'D BE TODAY" seem as if they were written for my thoughts about you.

WHO YOU'D BE TODAY
Sunny days seem to hurt the most. I wear the pain like a heavy coat.I feel you everywhere I go. I see your smile, I see your face,
I hear you laughin' in the rain. I still can't believe you're gone. It ain't fair: you died too young, Like the story that had just begun, But death tore the pages all away.God knows how I miss you,All the hell that I've been through,
Just knowin' no-one could take your place. An' sometime I wonder, Who'd you be today? Would you see the world? Would you chase your dreams? Settle down with a family, I wonder what would you name your babies? Some days the sky's so blue, I feel like I can talk to you, An' I know it might sound crazy.It ain't fair: you died too young,
Like the story that had just begun,But death tore the pages all away. God knows how I miss you,
All the hell that I've been through,Just knowin' no-one could take your place.
An' sometimes I wonder,
Who you'd be today? Sunny days seem to hurt the most.
I wear the pain like a heavy coat. The only thing that gives me hope, Is I know I'll see you again some day.

I chose your name from the CT map painted in our school which lists the soldiers in our state that lost their lives in Vietnam. As a part of the Capt. Nathan Hale Middle school posting project, I would like to honor the sacrefice you made for our country.

I remember…

The first time I saw you and the last and all the times in between. The way you smiled, the light in your eyes, the gentleness of your voice, the sunshine of your presence, feeling the joy and happiness of being close to you.

I remember too…

The phone call, stating you were gone, the anguish, the emptiness, the disbelief, the denial, the anger.

I became a better person for having known you. You taught me so much about life, in your living and in your death, I wish there was a way to repay you. But know this….

I remember…Brom.

You are forever in my heart and more often than not on my mind.

Lieutenant German, a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, was laid to rest with full milittary honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.com/bhgerman.htm

Hiep Duc Valley: C Company, 2-1 Infantry/ 196 BDE had set up its perimeter north of the old French road in the shadow of Hill 381 in the late afternoon. Hill 381 loomed over the valley and was part of a ridge line separating the Que Son and Hiep Duc Vallies. Charlie owned the ridge. Intelligence had placed a large NVA force (elements of the 3rd NVA RGT)on the hill which was only a few kilometers south of LZ Leslie; probably the same unit that hit 2/12 Cav's LZ Leslie on 3 January.
The unit came into contact with an overwhelming force and fought for its life in the dark jungle.
Mortar rounds impacted around the company area throughout the night. Soldiers screamed in the darkess. 1LT Drake (commander after the CO was WIA) was killed instantly. Then the company Forward Observer, 1LT German took command. He played a key role in coordinating artillery and a link up with a relief company through all the confusion. Then, he was killed. There were no more officers.
In the tragedy of lost leadership, enlisted men stepped up to the plate and led the platoons and company. With 1LT Drake and 1LT German lying dead next to him, RTO called gunships for support.
1LT Bromley German, Battery A, 3-82nd Artillery (FO) was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions that evening.
I would be interested in hearing from anyone who was with him that night.