THE WALL OF FACES

Taken from the memorial website:

http://www.virtualwall.org/dg/GossLJ01a.htm

Over 20 years ago I asked for your daughters hand in marriage at your grave site. Probably a morbid thought to many, but since you weren't able to be there to ask it seemed like the only respectable way to do it. Thank you so much for this beautiful young lady that you had to so unfairly leave here. She is an amazing young woman and I know you would be so proud. I am so fortunate to enjoy her each day. She has committed herself to giving honor to your legacy by the way she lives her life each day. You have the neatest grandchildren on earth because of her. I try to do my part, but I fail in comparison. I thank you so much for your contributions to life while you were here and all of those that remain. Your example of honor, bravery, and sacrifice leaves everyone that remains indebted to you. Thank you so much. I can't wait to meet you some day and tell you thanks, face to face, man to man. And then, since God work's outside of our time, maybe we can get the whole family together and watch the Cubbies play, who knows? I do know, it will be a grand, grand time!

Serving a year with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines in 1967-68 was a challenge even for an 18 year old Marine in perfect physical condition. We got scrapes from rocks, cuts from elephant grass, itchy holes from leeches, infections galore, and of course those bullet and shrapnel holes. We ran to the Corpsmen like a kid runs to his mom. "Hey doc, got anything for this?" And during battle, the dreaded scream of "Corpsman Up!".

Larry Goss was a Corpsman in my unit, and although I don't remember him individually, I know that at the time I knew him by sight and went to him with many of my ailments.

It was him, and others like him that patched us up and kept us going. It was him and others like him that said: "Don't worry. You'll be fine." And we usually were. It was him and others like him that risked their lives to reach us on the battlefield. "Don't worry. You'll be fine". Just like mom, only better.

And it was him, I now know, that died a few feet from me on Valentine's Day, 1968 from two mortar rounds fired by the NVA near the end of a long battle. He was there, doing his job, and exposed. The Company Commander was killed with him, and many more were wounded.

But now I know. It was him that gave us hope. A clean bandage in the mud. A tube of antibiotic gel for our infections. A pill for a pain. God bless Larry Goss, and all the other Corpsman that served in hell with us Marines. And to his daughter, Lori, that never got to touch him, but loves him beyond words, I say what her dad would say: "Don't worry. You'll be fine."

This Thursday will be the 40th Anniversary of the battle on Valentine's Ridge. My father, HM2 Larry Jo Goss was killed on that day and 10 others lost their lives. The battle went on for 2 days and many men were wounded. I am very proud of my father for his heroic acts that day. An account from another medic who was with him in battle stated that he and my father treated Private Cameron Carter during the battle. Pvt. Carter had three bullet wounds in his right upper arm. The medic stated that he later saw my father's body in the position of shielding another Marine's body. Both of them had been killed. I have spent time trying to gain a better understanding of my father's last hours. What I have learned is that my father was a brave man with noble character. I have been told by a very wise man that the definition of bravery in battle is, "doing you job while you are scared ****." My father did his job that day to the best of his ability and I am so very proud of him. I am also thankful for his life and for the legacy he left me and my children.

I had the privilege of attending the Kilo Company's Reunion in Orlando, Florida this year and met some of the men who served with my dad. These men were amazing! They treated my daughter and I like we were family. They told me their memories of that day (2-14-67) so that I could know more about my father and the way in which he died. I came home committed to write down all that I heard so that my 5 children could learn more about the life and death of their grandfather. It is my hope that his memory and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

My dad graduated from Marion High School in 1964. He was born and raised in Marion, Indiana and lived there until moving to Great Lakes, Illinois to complete Recruit Training. He was appointed to MAA, Company 281. His commanding officer was P.J. Goodwin, LTJG, USNR. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, Illinois on 10-2-66. His commanding officer was John H Gilpin, Captain, MSC. He was ordered to report for induction on 1-20-66. Ironically this is my mother's birthday but at this time they had not met. My father requested a postponement but was informed on 12-30-65 that his request had been denied. He was still ordered to report for induction unless he enlisted before that date. My father did enlist and met my mother in 3-66 at a bowling alley in Gas City, IN. The married in 10-66 and I was born 9 1/2 months later. My father went to California from 10-67 to 11-67 to receive training that was to prepare him for his duties in Vietnam. My dad was then ordered to report on 12/21/67. He arrived in Vietnam and reported to the 3d Battion, 9th Marines at 1300 hour. His location was 8 miles below the DMZ at a place called "Rock Pile." This was near the town of Dong Ha.

I want to thank the men who embraced my daughter and I at the Vietnam Veteran's Reunion in Orlando Florida this past year. You gave me pieces to a puzzle that had been missing. When I returned home I was sharing what I had learned with my husband and sons. My son stated, "I know now about how he died, now I want to know about his life. Funny stories, things he did."

I want to honor my father by writing down stories about him so that my children and my children's children never forget about him. I want them to know what kind of man he was. Parts of him continue to live inside of us and for that I am so grateful. If you knew my dad I would love to hear from you. If you have any memories of him or the battle on Valentine's Ridge and would be willing to share them with me I would be very thankful.

In a letter that my father wrote to my mother on February 12, 1968 (the last letter he was able to send to her) he wrote, "Dear Darling, How are you and my darling daughter doing? I miss you very very much. I love you both more than you'll ever know."
He ended his letter by writing, "I have your pictures in front of me now and I always have one on me. You're with me constantly, so don't worry you're guarding me all the time. I love you both very very much. Kiss Lori for me. With all My Love, Larry P.S. Sleep Warm!!"

Dad, I love you very very much and will receive that kiss from you in heaven.

I am the 40 year old daughter of HM2 Larry Jo Goss. It has been a long journey for me to come to accept that my father really died in Vietnam on 2/14/68. I longed for him so deeply and searched to know all I could about him. In doing so I found out that my dad was a man of great character. He was brave, funny, noble and strong. He was determined and faithful and loved my mom and I with all of his heart. He was a Corpsman who had the desire to become a doctor when he came home from Vietnam. He grew up very poor but was determined to create a good life for his family. My dad did not get to come home to Marion, Indiana. It is my desire that we never forget who he was. May we all honor him with our lives each day. May we make the most of each moment we have left on this Earth. He did great things in the 21 years that he was given to live. I am so thankful that he gave me life and so proud that he is my dad.