THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. May you rest in eternal peace.

Before dawn on February 27, 1967, the Viet Cong shelled the vast American air base at Da Nang with rockets and mortars, killing eleven American military personnel and at least 30 Vietnamese. Another thirty-two Americans and 70 Vietnamese were wounded in the shelling. Aircraft and buildings were damaged in the attack and small fires were started which swept through a Vietnamese area on the base perimeter. A total of 18 rounds rained down on the base, causing the flight line to be closed down for a period. All the American casualties were on the air base while the Vietnamese casualties occurred in a village adjacent to the complex. The eleven American losses included eight soldiers, two airmen, and one Marine. The lost soldiers were SP4 Bobby J. Barcena, PFC John R. Cacioppo, SP4 Wilson L. Cook, SP4 James L. Cunningham, PFC Timothy E. Perry, SP4 Virgil Stanley, SP4 Brian C. Wehner, and SP4 Neil S. Williams; the airmen were A2C Gary L. Fuller and A1C Robert H. Jones; the Marine was CPL Arthur J. Turner. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Attack Air Base; Kill 11 GIs.” Chicago Tribune, February 27, 1967.]

DEAR SPEC 4 BARCENA,
THANKS FOR BEING A FIELD RADIO OPERATOR. VETERANS' DAY JUST PASSED - SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER AND HONOR ALL OF YOU. THANKSGIVING IS APPROACHING. WE GIVE THANKS FOR YOU. MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS GUIDE YOU. REST IN PEACE.

Specialist Four Bobby John Barcena, Served with Company A, 37th Signal Battalion, 21st Signal Group, 1st Signal Brigade.

Dear SP4 Bobby John Barcena, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter