THE WALL OF FACES

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.

Petty Officer Third Class David Charles Hall, Served aboard PBR-8142 (Patrol Boat River 8142), River Division 554 (RIVDIV-554), Task Force 116 (TF-116), United States Naval Forces Vietnam (USNAVFORV).

Dear PO3C David Hall,
Thank you for your service as a Gunner's Mate 3rd Class (Guns.) The war was years ago, but we all need to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

On January 19, 1969, PBR-8142, a river patrol boat from River Division 554, Task Force 116, U.S. Naval Forces, Vietnam, was on a routine patrol in the Dong Tien Canal, one mile east of Tram Chim in Kien Phong Province, RVN, when it was hit by a command detonated mine, B-40 rockets, rifle grenades, and heavy automatic weapons fire. Two sailors, SN Stephen W. McKinley and GMG3 David C. Hall, were fatally wounded in the attack. Another crewman, SN Paul A. Holtz, suffered fragmentation wounds and was removed to the 29th Evacuation Hospital in Binh Thuy where he died of his wounds. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and U.S. Naval Forces Vietnam Monthly Historical Summary, January 1969]

I remember you and your father Marv Hall opened a Sportsman's shop right across the road from where we lived in New Milford. Later on I worked with Marv for Penn D.O.T.