THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your high school friend Joe Paul is especially poignant. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us...

It was 1966 and the Vietnam War was heating up. One of my Boy Scout friends ‘Skip’ was killed that summer in Viet Nam. He was the Sakawawin Order of the Arrow Lodge Chief and, being the next elected chief, I took over from him. Although a very bright boy, he couldn’t afford to go to college and was drafted. I went to his funeral. I’ll never forget seeing his father and family at his funeral, I was still there and Skip wasn’t. Sometime later Camp Sakawawin changed names. After the expansion, a lodge building was named after Skip. Camp Sakawawin closed in 2014 and all that remains are my patches and memories.

I was a friend of Skip during our Scouting days and on our "expedition" to Philmont Scout Ranch in 1964. He was the first person from our high school killed in action in Vietnam. I was so shocked to hear of his death and especially saddened when I had to make the announcement on our school PA system, followed by a prayer. I will always remember him, his courage and his ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. RIP

My father served in Vietnam with Skip and I grew up hearing countless tales of their time together there. He spoke of Skip with such love and admiration I always felt like he was an Uncle hat I never got to meet.

My father passed away last month, and while going through his writings (his dream was to be published) I found a short story he wrote about Skip and the Christmas of 1966.

I’m sure Skip was one of the first to greet my father up in heaven, with extra smokes he saved just for my dad.

Thank you for your service Skip, your memory has lived on in ways you can not imagine ??

Private First Class Otto William Baumann Jr., Served with Company D, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, United States Army Vietnam.