THE WALL OF FACES

Private Malcolm Jonathan Grim, Served with the 610th Transportation Company, 58th Transportation Battalion, 34th General Support Group, United States Army Vietnam.

Camp Viking was part of the Red Beach Base Area, a complex of U.S. Marines, Navy and Army, and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) logistics and support bases northwest of Da Nang in Quang Nam Province, RVN. On January 23, 1970, CWO James H. Alexander, a helicopter pilot based at Viking, had instructed a private E-1 to get a military haircut and report to him at 1330 hours. The E-1, PVT Malcom J. Grim, reported as ordered, but did not have his hair cut. Alexander, along with Grim's squad leader, proceeded to escort the private to the barber shop. Somewhere along the way, Grim pulled a fragmentation grenade from his pocket and yelled, "I have been to the barber, and I do not want to get another hair cut!" Grim pulled the pin on the grenade and let the spoon fly. Eyewitnesses stated that Grim made a motion to throw the grenade into a group of soldiers playing volleyball. Alexander struggled Grim, grasping the hand that held the grenade, while he tried to remove him to an area where several Conex containers would shield the blast. An explosion occurred and Grim was killed. Alexander was critically injured and taken to military hospital. He succumbed to his injuries on February 7, 1970. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and virtualwall.org]

I will always miss you I think of you often and wish you were still here with us now

Dear PVT Malcolm Jonathan Grim, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

Malcolm is buried at Monmouth Memorial Park in New Shrewsbury,NJ.