THE WALL OF FACES

I was with D Co and as you can tell from the following this was a very heavy contact day with E Co first having the helicopter crash and then after making a landing with what was left of E Co, making heavy contact a few hours later. You can tell it was heavy contact due to the fact that my company, D Co, was CA'd as a combat assault to help out Co E. Line # 11 (STB) was considered MIA before being reclassified as KIA. The following is what was written into the daily log.
0925 - Lift unit, upon lift-off of E 1/6 01 Bird hit trees and went down. Engine failure caused crash, 05 people injured – 03 litter - 02 ambulatory. All from E 1/6 Line numbers 42, 49, 62, 77, 81. 1002 – E 1/6 Medevac requested for 03 litter – 02 ambulatory. 1022 Medevac completed. 1015 - E 1/6 Mini Cav - 1014 lift (5+2) airborne from LZ Ike PZ clear, 1026 lift (5+2) touchdown at XT389783 LZ Green. Lift
completed. 1025 A1/9 on station to assist E 1/6. 1455 - E Co. 1/6, XT391784 reported receiving fire from their East, 1500 - they were unable to break contact Blue Max on station, Requested Medevac on standby. 03 WIA 02 MIA, 1505 - Lift requested to move D Co. in support of E 1/6, 1525 - Lift birds on station. 1535 - White 44 on station to assist D Co. Combat assault 1530 - CC, Arizona. CC kicked out resupply smoke Grenades to E Co 1/6. 1525 -Rush 12, Rush on station to put in an immediate A/S in Grid XT394784, 1645 - A/S Rash reported 04 KBA. 1600 - E Co 1/6 reported 05 WIA - 02 MIA’s. They had been receiving sniper fire from 360 degrees. Medevac requested 1730. Complete 1800. 2130 - D Co. & E CO 1/6. Line numbers of WIA's medevacked and MIA's in D Co & E Co 1/6 contact. D Co. WIA Line #12 (RA) and line #80 (DW) - E Co.1/6 MIA's Line #11 (STB) and Stephen J Perry. WIA's Line #29 (ELA) #39 (RC), #88 (TLW), 1ast initial #94 (DA) "FNG" #89 Kit Carson Scout. 2300 - Bde 83m, Preplanned A/S for 1900 tomorrow in D Co & E Co contact area, Ordinance 750 lbs.

I was beside you that day and it is forever etched in my heart. It was a day when one of the best loved soldiers of our platoon went away. You are remembered and talk about at every reunion and in conversations throughout the years. Gad, we miss you.

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Sergeant Samuel Thomas Baker, Served with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

DEAR SERGEANT BAKER,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A GRUNT WITH THE 1ST CAVALRY. THIS WAS THE UNIT OF A FRIEND'S TWIN. SAY HI TO MIKE IN HEAVEN.
HALLOWEEN IS APPROACHING, AND ALL SAINTS AND ALL SOULS' DAYS - THE DAYS WE HONOR THOSE WHO LEFT US. MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS GUIDE YOU. REST IN PEACE.