THE WALL OF FACES

I'm sorry for what the war did to you

The account of your final day just several days short of your end of tour is terribly sad. I suppose we will never know the effect the war had on you and the reasons for your actions.

I was 6 years old when this soldier went on his rampage...I don't know what demons he was dealing with at the time...with 2 days left in Vietnam, he kills a Sargent and a Captain and then turns the gun on himself...it doesn't make any sense but I can't judge this man...my message is to point out some obvious flaws in the Vietnam War Memorial...The Wall was finished before all the information that we have now...I am not saying that this man should not be on the Memorial but I am saying that there are literally hundreds that have met all the criteria and they are not honored on the Wall...I have tried to get Lance Corporal Marke Dumpert added to the Wall but it is an almost impossible task...Cpl. Dumpert woke up a quadriplegic after his Jeep hit a mine in Quang Tri in 1968 and he ultimately died in a V.A. hospital in 1971...I read about Marke's sad story in a Life Magazine article from the early 70's and his story has always haunted me... Marine Lance Corporal Marke Dumpert should be honored on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C.

The 272nd Military Police Company arrived in Vietnam in September 1965. Based at Nha Trang Base Camp in Khanh Hoa Province, RVN, the 272nd participated in convoy escorts and security for the headquarters of I Field Force, Vietnam. Additional responsibilities included administration of military laws, orders, regulations, traffic enforcement, circulation of individuals, protection of property, and the operation of checkpoints. On March 10, 1970, a double murder-suicide occurred at Nha Trang when an enlisted man fatally wounded CPT Carroll W. Spragins, the Company Commander of the 272nd, and 1SG Donald R. Donaldson. The gunman, PFC Charles D. Hicks Jr., a military policeman with two days remaining in his tour of Vietnam, then turned the weapon on himself. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, vietnam272nd.com, and information provided by David Thompson (March 2004) at thewall-usa.com]

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers