THE WALL OF FACES

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

I was most fortunate to be your company's artillery forward observer from July to December 1965. Thank you for your mentoring and your teaching. It was great to be in your company. I will always remember you.
May God love you and keep you. You were an exemplary "Officer of Marines."

Captain Paul Leo Gormley, Served with Company H, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

Operation Harvest Moon was a U.S. Marine Corps and Army of the Republic of Vietnam search and destroy operation in the Que Son Valley in western Quang Tin Province, RVN, lasting from December 8 to 20, 1965. On December 18th, as 2/7 Marines advanced through the village of Ky Phu, four miles west of National Highway QL-1, they were engaged by the Viet Cong (VC) 8th Battalion. Company H, 2/9 Marines became cut off from the rest of the battalion and was ambushed by the VC. During the initial assault, the company’s commander, CAPT Paul L. Gormley Jr., and his radio operator, LCPL Robert J. Wilkins, were both killed by a 57mm recoilless rifle round. Command of the company fell to an artillery observer from 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines, 1LT Harvey C. Barnum, who had been with the unit for only about a week. When Gormley got hit, Barnum ran fifty yards, picked up the company commander, and brought him back to a covered position where he died in his arms. Now in control of the company, Barnum established a defensive perimeter which fought off the VC for the next four hours before they could rejoin the 2/7 Marines in Ky Phu. The battalion lost fourteen dead in the battle, while over one hundred VC bodies were counted. Barnum would later be awarded the Medal of Honor. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, virtualwall.org, and “In Persistent Battle: U.S. Marines in Operation Harvest Moon, 8 December to 20 December 1965” by Nicholas J. Schlosser]

Thank you on Veteran's Day for the ultimate sacrifice from Alex B. from Rider High School