THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Sergeant Jackson, You Are Not Forgotten!
This is the 2nd year, on the anniversary of your passing, that I ran a mile with you in my thoughts and prayers. Rest in Peace, Dear Brother.

Each year since September 2015, at the annual 5th Division Army reunion, members of the Society of the Fifth Division, U.S Army remember the 514 soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 5th Division, who were Killed in Action in Vietnam. You are among the soldiers remembered. You Are Not Forgotten!

Phil “LT Mike” Maniscalco
Society of the 5th Division, U.S. Army
Delta Company 1/11 Infantry
Vietnam Sept 1968- Sept 1969

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your friend and fellow soldier Alan Johnson is moving and reflects his admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

John (Jack) Jackson and I became good friends at Fort Carson, CO while serving with the 1st Brigade of the 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) which was being built up and trained up to be sent as a unit to Viet Nam in 1968. As it turned out the 5th Mech was the last full unit to be sent to Viet Nam as a complete unit. John and I volunteered to join the advance party (about 300 soldiers) which was being sent over about a month before the other units that made up the 5th mech would arrive. We sat together on the C-141 that left out of Colorado Springs for the trip to Da Nang. I remember having plane troubles all the way over, but we eventually made it to Da Nang, where we took a C-123 or C-130 (long time ago, can't remember which) up to Quang Tri Combat Base. From there we helped set up our initial base camp. After all the tanks, infantry and artillery arrived in country and were sent to their respective areas of operation we settled in to try to get up to speed with a difficult area of operation (not very far south of the DMZ). Fast forward to a few months later when we moved into our permanent base camp called ("Red Devil" which was the nickname of the 5th Mech). At Camp Red Devil we had a relatively secure environment, except for the occasional mortar and rocket attacks. It was around this time that John told me that he wanted to try to transfer to a unit that was closer to the action and felt that he could add more to that unit than being in a relatively secure base camp. John was one of the most "Squared Away" soldiers I ever encountered during my time in the military and while I tried to talk him out of it, he was determined to transfer to a combat line unit. After 53 years my memory is a little rusty, but I think the unit he transferred into was A Company, 4th of the 12th Cavalry, where he served with great distinction as a sergeant up until his passing, which was about 40 days before we were to rotate out of Viet Nam. John could have been the poster for a true American and dedicated soldier, who served his country with great distinction and gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country. I think of him every day and miss him greatly. A true friend and great patriot. As a footnote, I had never heard of the Wall Of Faces until a couple of nights ago while watching TV (Bosch-Legacy) the wall of faces was mentioned and the next day I checked it out. It's a very nice tribute to all who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Rest in peace my friend.

Dear Sergeant Jackson ~ You Are Not Forgotten!
With the upcoming anniversary (May 22nd) of your passing, today I ran a mile with you in my thoughts and prayers. Rest in Peace, dear brother.

Each year since September 2015, at the annual 5th Division Army reunion, members of the Society of the Fifth Division, U.S Army remember the 514 soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 5th Division, who were Killed in Action in Vietnam. You are among the soldiers remembered. You Are Not Forgotten!

Phil “LT Mike” Maniscalco
Society of the 5th Division, U.S. Army
Delta Company 1/11 Infantry
Vietnam Sept 1968- Sept 1969

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers