THE WALL OF FACES

I remember that Rowland Adamoli was the first kid from Germantown KIA in Vietnam. His loss made the war much more realistic and personal for a lot of us in the neighborhood. His brother Mario was my scout leader at Germantown Boys' Club. Each time I visit The Wall, Rowland's is among the names I always look for - his is easy to find, on the second panel. We were all so young, and that war took so many of the best.

MY FIRST CREW CHEIF. MEDITERRANIAN CRUISE WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE. TAUGHT ME ALL ABOUT HANDLING AN AMTRAC.
LEFT BIG SHOES TO FILL.HIS ATTITUDE/ OUTLOOK ON LIFE HELPED ME DURING MY TOUR IN THE CORPS AND IN NAM.

Rowland J. Adamoli
West Ashmead Street, Germantown

Adamoli, 25, was one of the first Marines
from Philadelphia to die in Vietnam. He had
dropped out of high school and gone to work
as an apprentice bricklayer when he joined
the Marine Corps in August 1961. The 6-footer,
youngest of six children, later earned his
high school diploma in the service. Adamoli
loved country music and played soccer and
football at the Germantown Boys Club. He had
extended his enlistment six months to
qualify for a tour of duty in Vietnam after
American involvement there escalated
sharply in 1965. Adamoli was considering
apprenticing as an electrical linesman with
a Marine buddy when they returned home.
"He was kind of a daring boy," recalled a sister
after his death in Chu Lai, Quang Tin Province,
on Aug. 18, 1965, during Operation Starlight.
The corporal, an amphibious tractor crew chief,
had been assigned to Company A,
1st Amphibious Tractor Battalion,
4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division.
In addition to his sister, Adamoli was survived
by his wife and a daughter. His father a Marine
combat veteran decorated for bravery in
World War 1, died the previous year.

MY NAME IS HEIDI ADAMOLI HARTING, MY FATHER WAS ROWLAND. HE WAS KILLED IN VIETNAM WHEN I WAS 8 MONTHS OLD. ALL MY MEMORIES OF HIM ARE OTHER PEOPLES. I UNDERSTAND HE WAS A HERO, THEY ALL WERE. I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DIED FOR US, FOR FREEDOM. MY HUSBAND IS A US MARINE, AN HONORABLE MAN, AND A GOOD MAN. I LIKE TO THINK MY FATHER WAS THAT KIND OF MAN, AND I HOPE HIS GRANDSON, MY SON WILL BE ONE TOO. I OFTEN WONDER HOW MUCH I AM LIKE MY DAD. I HOPE IF ANYONE READS THIS THAT HAS ANY KNOWLEDGE OF HIM THEY COULD CONTACT ME AT

[email protected]

Thank You.....All of you who sacrificed.

Although it has been 35 years since that fateful day never a day goes by that you are in my thoughts. I miss you, the family misses you and I will miss until the day I die. Your memory will never fade away for it will be passed on to generations to come.

Your Loving Nephew,
Matty