THE WALL OF FACES

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

The war may be forgotten but the warrior will always be remembered. All gave Some-Some gave All. Rest in peace Sky Soldier.

Dear Sgt Joe Longoria, Thank you for your service as an Airborne Qualified Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Today is the 45th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, and it is still sad. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Operation Washington Green was a joint operation of 173d Airborne Brigade and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) pacification campaign conducted in the An Lao Valley of Binh Dinh Province, RVN. On April 19, 1969, Sky Soldiers from D Company, 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, with their Vietnamese counterparts were moving into a night Command Post position a mile southeast of Tam Quan city when a land mine consisting of one, possibly two, booby-trapped 105mm artillery rounds were detonated. Five U.S. troopers were killed in the blast. Another three Vietnamese National Policemen and a ARVN interpreter accompanying the Americans were also killed. An additional eight Sky Soldiers were wounded. A Dustoff (medical evacuation by helicopter) was requested at 7:52 PM and arrived on scene at 8:14 PM, and the wounded were flown to Qui Nhon. The five lost Sky Soldiers were SP4 Harold G. Bottoms, PVT Robert R. Bradley, SSG Larry H. Cooke, PFC Richard L. Hannon, and SP4 Joe G. Longoria. Bottoms and Longoria were posthumously promoted to Sergeant, and Hannon was posthumously promoted to Corporal. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

On behalf of all the paratroopers who served with you in the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) and all who followed, we offer our respect and remembrance of your ultimate sacrifice. May you never be forgotten and your family and friends take comfort in your valor in serving.