THE WALL OF FACES

TSGT Paul F. Luce was assigned to the 315th Consolidated Maintenance Squadron, 315th Special Operations Wing, 7th Air Force. In early August 1968, Luce was at Phan Rang Air Base, located five miles northwest of Phan Rang in Ninh Thuan Province, RVN. He had just begun his one-year tour of Vietnam seven days before when, on August 2nd, Luce was fatally injured in what was described as a “pedestrian/automobile accident.” [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org; obituary from the News-Gazette (Champaign, IL), August 12, 1968, courtesy of Tom Kuipers, Archives Assistant, Champaign County Historical Archives, The Urbana Free Library, Urbana, IL]

Taken from The Rantoul Press (Rantoul, IL), August 7, 1968, courtesy of Teri D. Barnett, Newspaper Librarian, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL.

Dear Tsgt Paul Luce, Thank you for your service with the 315th Special Operations Wing. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Yesterday was Mother’s Day, but like none other. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Thanks for giving your life for this great country!

Dear TSGT Paul Franklin Luce, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter