THE WALL OF FACES

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine

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.

On October 8, 1969, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, was under the operational control of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, assisting with security sweeps along National Highway QL-9 which ran from the Dong Ha area west into Laos. As evening approached, 3rd Platoon, Lima 3/4 settled into a night position near the Khe Gio Bridge overlooking the Song Cam Lo (river), about six miles southwest of Cam Lo. At around 12:35 AM, the platoon received a heavy barrage of 82mm mortars followed by a surprise ground attack from two reinforced platoons of North Vietnamese Army (NVA) infantry and sappers. The enemy assaulted the south end of 3rd Platoon’s position after moving up two two-man [teams] with AK-47s as security for a 10-man sapper team. The sappers moved east to west along the high ground, throwing satchel charges and Chicom grenades at the Platoon’s Command Post. The precision by which the NVA operated made it apparent that they had been watching the Marine location as they hit every key position. A listening post and a M60 machine gun position were wiped out by the first volley of rocket-propelled grenades. Two NVA penetrated the perimeter and destroyed the platoon's ammunition dump (both were later killed). The Lima 3/4 Marines responded immediately, returning fire with unit weapons and calling in 81mm mortar fire and artillery illumination. Two hours later, a reaction force from the Khe Gio Bridge helped set up a defensive perimeter using grenades to force the enemy from the defensive wire. Once back out into the bush, the Marines opened fire with small arms. The NVA broke contact at sunrise after taking an hour of heavy artillery, mortar, and U.S. Air Force "Spooky" AC-47 fixed-wing gunship fire. Eight Marines were killed and seventeen were wounded during the battle. The lost personnel included LCPL Adrian L. Allen, PFC Terry W. Booker, PFC Jimmie D. Cox, PFC Benny R. Dupree, LCPL Michael L. Holtz, PFC George D. Howard, LCPL Robert S. King Jr., PFC James C. Shields, and PFC Mark A. Van Beukering. A search of the battlefield disclosed ten enemy bodies with dark camouflage coloring or shorts; others were completely naked. Also located were enemy rifles and ammunition, grenades, thirty satchel charges, and five NVA uniforms with all organization markings torn off. [Taken from virtualwall.org and “U.S. Marines in Vietnam: High Mobility and Standdown, 1969” by Charles R. Smith]

Dear PFC George Howard, Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Semper Fidelis PFC Howard.