THE WALL OF FACES

This is a picture of Phillips, Gary Gryzen (center of the photo holding a beer) and my father (right side of photo) on the USS Benewah back in 1968. Both Gary and Phillips were KIA on the same day and in my father's squad.

Taken in 1968 before he deployed to Vietnam.

My father was in the squad on the day that Gary died. Dad was wounded as well when a RPG hit the village where they were at and was on the medivac with Gary when he passed.

Years later after I was born and Dad had recovered from his wounds, he went to visit Gary's Mother and return to her Gary's watch that he'd borrowed that evening when Gary died. Mrs. Gryzen was thankful to know that her son did not die alone separated from his unit as the Army had told her.

To this day our family is still in contact with Mrs. Gryzen. Dad looked at Gary as a younger brother and watched over him. He often thought about Gary and occasionally spoke of Gary till he passed on in 2000. Gary's picture still is in our home and I grew to know of Gary and his girlfriend Jill over the years. My mother and Mrs. Gryzen still write one another over 40 years later.

Gary's story is not forgotten and his memory will be passed on.

Rest peacefully Gary...

Gary is buried at Georgetown TWP Cemetery in Hudsonville, MI.

I served with Gary in Vietnam. This picture is from a book published by our Battalion in 1969. I believe the photo was taken around November 1969 at our base camp in Can Giuoc, South Vietnam. I think of Gary often and will always remember him.