THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. While all deaths in Vietnam are tragic that you died just four days after your 20th birthday is especially so. May you rest in eternal peace.

This is his boot camp photo from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, Platoon 3041. He earned the title “U.S. Marine” on November 17, 1967.

Thank you for your service to our great country my brother. Semper Fi.

Dear PFC Paul Gorman,
Thank you for your service as a Mortarman. 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.

Dearest Paul,
I write with a heavy heart to let you know we have lost another member of our family to war. Your Marine nephew Mike died of alcohol poisoning. His PTSD demons appear to have driven him to this end. We will never know. But we do know too many young marines and soldiers die too soon from the never-ending wounds of war.
He leaves a wife and 4 children who are in utter despair over the loss. They are a wonderful family and I wish you could have know them. They have moved up from Camp Lejuene NC. They are putting their lives back together in CT now in the arms of their families. The twins are 11, Matt 15 & Josh 18. The children are resettled in CT schools and the family is trying to sort out the nightmare. We are committed to supporting them throughout their lifetime. I only wish the our government would care enough to do the same. It takes young military families a lifetime to recover from the wounds of war. Keep them all in your prayers!
I think of you often. As a Navy Nurse in the VietNam Med Evac Hospital Network (ICU, Med Evac, VietNam Medic Training program), we shared your pain as we cared for too many dying and disabled teens who ultimately died in vain. We had tragic losses for both U.S. and Vietnamese families that last a lifetime.
I can do some good by sharing our family story. You were Killed in Action along the DMZ on July 30,1968, just in time to celebrate your 20ieth birthday. Not may teenagers lived to make it home that year or many other years, as we have now moved to a state of never-ending war here. You death was followed by mom's massive heart attack and total disability until her death. Like so many Gold Star Mothers, she too died of a broken heart.
I did finally get back to VietNam to honor your ghost and the spirits of all the victims of that horrific war. I visited DMZ, Khe Sanh and Camp Carroll among others. I tried to locate Hill 606 where you died but that trek was not successful. I have been supporting an orphanage in Hue in your honor. I also support other Agent Orange orphanages throughout Vietnam via Vets for Peace. It was therapeutic to see the positive changes in VietNam. I left with a sense of hope for VietNam.
I continue to be active in peace and justice work over these 50 years through VietNam Vets Against the War, Veterans for Peace, Gold Star Families for Peace, Gold Star Families Speak Out and Mass. Peace Action, among others. We carry on the pledge to you to make sure you did not die in vain and will be remembered eternally for helping to bring an end to war.
Your loving sister
Bonnie (Mary) Gorman RN, Quincy, MA

I was just a little girl in the neighborhood. You probably didn't even know who I was but your death strongly effected me. I had never known anyone who died before certainly never one so young. I was only 6 yo and so innocent. I cried many tears for you, your mom & dad and my loss of innocence.

I rode my bike many afternoons to your gravestone just to sit and wonder why a guy so young needed to die in a war so far away.

I remember you Paul Gorman and I still cry for your loss even though I'm no longer young or innocent.