THE WALL OF FACES

Sandy Kempner was from a wealthy and illustrious Galveston family. If anyone could have avoided this war and sat it out in grad school it was he. Instead, he became a Marine officer and received two purple hearts, the second awarded for his mortal wounds. I was priviliged to serve as an officer two years after his death in the same battalion, 1/7. I am also from Galveston, but didn't know him while growing up there. His family placed his books and other memorabilia in a room called Sandy's room at the Rosenberg library in Galveston. It is a nice quiet place to sit and read and be reminded that it was not just the poor and underpriviliged who fought and died in Southeast Asia. He is one of 31 Galvestonians who gave their lives for their country in that fight. Come visit the Rosenberg library and remember him if you get to Galveston.