THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. We should be forever thankful for the sacrifices of you and so many others to ensure the freedoms we so often take for granted.

Con Thien was a U.S. Marine Corps combat base located two miles south of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Quang Tri Province, RVN. On January 5, 1968, North Vietnamese Army gunners mortared Con Thien in groups of three to five bursts between 9:45 AM and 10:15 AM. A total of thirty-seven rounds, including five 120mm shells, fell on the Marine positions. One Marine was killed, radioman CPL Carl E. Hixson, who died in the latrine area located southeast of the Command and Control (COC) bunker. Eight others were wounded, including LTC Evan L. Parker Jr., the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines battalion commander, after the 2/1 COC took a direct hit. Both air and artillery assets attacked the suspected enemy firing positions, but the Marine command had no way of knowing the effectiveness of these efforts. After the medical evacuation of Parker, MAJ James T. Harrell III, the executive officer, was named acting commander of the battalion. On January 9th, LTC Billy R. Duncan officially relieved Parker as battalion commander and Harrell resumed his duties as executive officer. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Defining Year, 1968” by Jack Shulimson; also, information provided by David Johnson (May 2022); Image: Arrow indicates latrine where Hixson died. (Courtesy of David Johnson)]

I remember this day. And it was not until this day that I knew who I pronounced dead. I was a corpsman from Hotel Comp called to the aid of those on the hill (Con Thien). It was I who went to his aid --- but no aid was to be had.

Dear Cpl Carl Hixson, Thank you for your service as a Radio Telegraph Operator. Today is Father's Day! Watch over the USA, it still needs your strength. Rest in peace with the angels.

Semper Fi, Corporal.