THE WALL OF FACES

I bunked next to him in basic training at Fort Dix, NJ. We were sworn in together among a group of about 50 (all draftees, I believe) at Boston Army Base, 7 Nov 1967, then bussed to Fort Dix. We were in Sgt Cooper's platoon of E-5-3 company, finished basic in January of '68. There were 7 of us bunking in the same small room. I remember the last name of each of the others. The image of William's face is seared into my memory. The photo of him on this site is from when he was several years younger, but when I saw it I instantly recognized that it was him. I clearly remember the day we learned where we were being sent for AIT. He learned he was going to be in the infantry. Almost all of us wound up in Vietnam regardless of MOS. I found out he had been killed within a few months after it happened. He was a very nice guy. I have a rubbing of his name from the Vietnam Wall.

We were at school together and had many happy times. I could always count on you for a smile or laugh.

We can never truly repay the great debt we owe our fallen heroes. May those who served never be forgotten. Rest in peace SP4. Gould, I salute your brave soul. My heart goes out to you and your family.

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed...
We feel lucky to have seen it.

Specialist Four William C. Gould Jr., Served with Company D, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, United States Army Vietnam.