THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever….

Joe was my Platoon Sgt. at Camp Pendleton. We had arrived at about the same time and were assigned to Security Platoon of the 26th Marine Regimental Headquarters Co. Joe always treated everyone with respect and fellowship. I was still 17 a PFC and Joe was on his second enlistment. I remember Joe and the squad leaders having a beer at the EM Club while they rest of us could only have a Coke or Pepsi. For some reason I missed alot of 0311 training because I had some kind of additional duty. Either duty in the Mess Hall, or assigned to El Toro for NBC School. Then just prior to our departure with 2/26 for Vietnam someone asked me if I had a drivers license. I did have a drivers license and the person asking might have been Joe (can't remember for sure). I had an interview with the Regimental XO and was selected as his driver. The Regimental XO who's name I don't remember today retired right after we reached Okinawa by ship on the U.S.S. Estes. Since the Regiment was now without an XO the C.O. Col J.J. Padley (who had a driver) asked me if I wanted to go TAD to Subic Bay for a few weeks. I voluntered to go and guard C-Ration supplies for 3/26 which was enroute. Back in Okinawa I was assigned to the new XO Lt. Col Gastrock. The Security Platoon was broken up for replacement for Battalions rotating to Okinawa from Vietnam for regrouping. By this time Joe was assigned to Regimental S-3 or S-4 at Camp Schwab and later went to 1st Bn. 4th Marines around late February or early March of 67. I was in the Regimental S-1 when I received news of Joe's death and his passing really saddened me. It was soon after that I asked to be assigned to 1/3. My MOS had changed from 0311/5711 to 3531/5711/0311. It was probably Joe that asked me about a drivers license back at Camp Pendleton and I have felt for many years that inquiry probably saved my life as I avoided a permanent Rifle Company assignment. I did serve for awhile as a machine gun team leader with 2nd plt. Delta Co. during operation Hickory/Beau Charger in May of 67. I made a personal visit to Gallup New Mexico around 1999 and met Joe's sister and his mother before she passed. I was also able to visit Joe's grave. Some years later I met Joe's cousin in Dallas Tx.
Bob Wilson Cpl U.S.M.C.

Dear Sgt Joseph Hurta, 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.

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.

I met then CORPORAL Hurta the Summer of 66 when we were en route by bus from Pendleton to board ships for conveyance of HQ & 2/26 Marines. He was strikingly serious then on that bus...almost as if he had a premonition of his future. If I recall correctly, he had been to RVN before. We laughed, joked, bowled etc in that time at Schwab, and parted company at Camp Schwab, Okinawa around Feb 67 as he was deploying with 1/9 Marines. Joe had that same look as the first time on board the bus. I learned of his death just as I was ready to redeploy to Vietnam, Mar 67.
Semper Fi, Joseph, your instincts were correct.