THE WALL OF FACES

This is for a Frankfort, Michigan H.S. posting project. I want to thank Michael Mahoney & his family for all the sacrifices they've made to help our country and others. It must be very hard ,even now, dealing with what happened, but just remembering that he gave his life to serve our country and that he made an effort to change horrible things that were happening brings a smile to my face. I am very very thankful for everything him & his family have done. So thank you.

I was a Marine who served as a volunteer on the Special Forces team sent out from FOB 3 (at Khe Sanh combat base) to recover KIA and MIA personnel from MSG Bill Wood's team which was ambushed on Hill 471 on 29 January 1968. Tommy had been a volunteer on that team. He was wounded in the leg during the ambush, and the team was split. He was last seen alive on the hill trying to evade the enemy and get back to the FOB. Our recovery team encountered a greatly superior force of NVA, and suffered several KIA and WIA, eventually being forced to retire from the hill without recovering the men we set out for, although we were able to bring off our own casualties. Tommy was listed as MIA. In April 1968, after the Siege was lifted, Marines found Tommy's remains on Hill 471. We remain uncertain of exactly how or when he died, but it is likely that he died from the wound(s) received earlier, and /or further enemy fire.
I regret that we were unable to recover or rescue Tommy and the other men on his team. I have finally contacted his surviving family, and been able to inform them of what I knew, and convey my deepest respects and condolences to them for their loss. I did not know Tommy personally as we were in different units, but from all accounts, he was a fine, caring young man who left a safe assignment to volunteer for duty in Vietnam, and had volunteered for duty the day he was slain. Unfortunately, in the words of the ancient Greeks, "War is not sparing of the brave, but of cowards." Tommy was obviously no coward, and was trying to the last to carry on. I deeply regret the loss to his family and country.



http://www.cap-oscar.org

FOREVER REMEMBERED

"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them....
Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind...."

Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell
KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces.

We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you, one of the gentle heroes lost to the War in Vietnam:

Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul ... and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.

From your Nam-Band-Of-Brothers

I went through Basic, AIT, Jump School and part of Special Forces Training with Michael Thomas Mahoney and we became good friends. Unfortunately, my path took me in another direction after that. I can remember the day very well when I found out about his death in Viet Nam. Over the years I have thought about him many times and felt guilty that I was not there with him on that day. I know you are still missed by family and friends, and also me, who God chose to sent on a different way. I will see you again some day in the presents of our Lord.