THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The many remembrances from those who knew you are moving and reflect their admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever….

Hello again my friend. Another year and I am 80 years old and you, 26 yrs. Life is good and I still think of you and mentally share those times. You were robbed
of so much. I hope those of us who knew or served with you do the same. As long as we do, you live.
Rest in peace my friend and I will continue to ho ld you in my thoughts.

55 years ago I promised your parents never to forget you. Your courage, humor, wit and compassion. I regret all that you lost on 11/ 11/66 but O have thought of you often and shared my joys since then with you in thought. When you take a mans life, you rob him of all that he has or ever will have. Those of us who knew you and survived, keep your memory alive in appreciation of your sacrifice.
Semper Fi and God bless.

Dear Lt Marion Kempner, Thank you for your service as a Basic Infantry Officer. Your 53rd anniversary just passed, sad. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Thanksgiving is next week. The time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

2LT Marion L. Kempner was a platoon leader serving with M Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. On November 11, 1966, 2LT Kempner was moving in a platoon-sized column of Marines during a patrol five miles southwest of Binh Son in Quang Tin Province, RVN, the tenth man in line. As the patrol crossed a small, fast-running stream passing over the trail, one of the Marines hit a tripwire detonating a Chicom grenade or a mined booby-trap. Three Marines were injured in the blast, including Kempner. When examined, it was found that Kempner had suffered a small abdominal wound two inches below his beltline; however, he directed the corpsman to attend to the other injured Marines first. Within a short time, the color drained from Kempner’s face. He didn’t complain of pain, but something was terribly wrong. Unbeknownst to the corpsmen, a critical artery had been severed and the life was bleeding out of Kempner. He was placed on a medivac with the other wounded, and during the flight to Chu Lai he succumbed when his heart stopped beating. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and Command Chronology, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), November 1966]