THE WALL OF FACES

Some may think you are forgotten
Though on earth you are no more
But in our memory you are with us
As you always were before….

Late in the evening of June 12, 1967, the North Vietnamese Army launched a barrage of 130mm rockets and artillery shells against the 1st AMTRAC Battalion base area one-half mile southeast of the mouth of the Cua Viet River in Quang Tri Province, RVN. Some 225 rocket and artillery shells rained down in and around the battalion position. Every unit in the perimeter wire was hit, and many of the troop GP tents were knocked down. Unprotected supplies went up in smoke and shrapnel ripped through the entire area, damaging communications wire, chopping trees down, shattering windshields of vehicles, and puncturing barrels of petroleum and lubricants. Casualties included one Marine killed and thirty-three others wounded. The lost Marine was SGT James L. Kistler, a member of the Maintenance Platoon from Headquarters & Service Company. That evening, SGT Kistler was the patrol leader of two fire teams of Marines set in ambush along a suspected Viet Cong route between the Street Without Joy and the South China Sea and villages to the south. One of the very first 130mm rockets fired at the Cua Viet compound overshot the position and impacted just a few meters behind Kistler who was sitting on the rim of his fox hole. The blast and shrapnel from the exploding rocket killed him instantly. A month after the attack, the base camp was named in memory of the landing craft mechanic and patrol leader, designated Camp Kistler. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and amtrac.org]

Thinking of the ones who didn't come home.
From one who did.
Semper fi

Dear Sgt James Kistler, Thank you for your service as a Motor Vehicle Operator.
Your 78th birthday just passed, happy birthday. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is the 6th Day of Christmas, Merry Christmas and happy New Year in heaven. The time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

As Veterans day nears my thoughts are first of those Marine brothers from my outfit the 1st Amtrac Bn.
Who didn't make it back from Vietnam. Some 50 Marines were KIA during my tour. Of those 50 you were the first. I was only in Cua Viet a number of days when I was sent to accompany your remains and belongings to Graves Registration in Dong Ha. A few days before we'd been told that a We'd lost a Marine while on Patrol. Later you were recognized as the first Marine killed at Cua Viet and our camp was officially given the name Camp Kistler. I have pictures somewhere taken on the dedication day and of the Camp sign honoring your name. (I will post them at a later date) Semper Fi Sgt Kistler you are remember.