THE WALL OF FACES

I called him Jeris. He and his father had the same name so family had gotten in the habit of calling him Jeris and his father answered to Garlin. I was his platoon leader and he was loader on my tank. We laughed about orders coming down to us from ‘higher’ which made us ‘lowest’ in the scheme of all things army. Vic Shaffer was our driver. Jeris and I got in country just a few days apart and would have Deros’d the same week. We got to be friends as well as crewmates. I was an L-T but life in a turret was too close for that. I’m sorry I wasn’t there that day to help you. I keep the picture of you from the day we painted the words to that Jerry Butler song on the cupola hatch on my desk.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Specialist Four Garlin Jeris Henderson Jr., Served with Company D, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, United States Army Vietnam.

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

Specialist Four Garlin Jeris Henderson, Jr. was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, with Combat Distinguishing Device (V), for his exemplary gallantry in action.
He served as an Armor Crewman and was assigned to D CO, 1ST SQDN, 11TH ARMORED CAVALRY.
See https://army.togetherweserved.com/