THE WALL OF FACES

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Dear SSgt Jose Maldonado, Thank you for your service with the 6254 Air Base Squadron. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Time passes quickly, but it is an unusual time. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

For many years I grew up with your 3 beautiful children I called my brother and sisters. To this day they are and will remain my brother and sisters full blood not half. Through them I learned of who you were even though I have never met you. My brother is your spitting image, so I knew what you looked like. When I was old enough and it was too hard for my siblings to visit your grave, I would. When I worked at a flower shop and had deliveries to the funeral home I would sometimes stop by just to chat and bring you a rose. My brother and sisters still mourn to this day as so do I. My dad, was a wonderful man and raised them to the best of his knowledge. Thank you for sharing your children with me, and giving me the best siblings a girl could ask for. All my love, Tara Lynne Hayes Cline

This message is meant for anyone (family, friend or acquaintance) who might have known this individual. As a community service project for the American Legion Auxiliary, I am looking for a photo of this service member so that they may be fully recognized and honored on the Wall of Faces. If you have access to any type of photo (military, graduation, casual or group), please contact me at [email protected]
Your help is greatly appreciated!

SSGT Jose Maldonado served with the 6254th Air Base Squadron at Pleiku Air Base in Pleiku Province, RVN. On November 11, 1971, SSGT Maldonado died after suffering injuries in an accident involving a bucket front loader. The following is a personal account of the incident by Tom Ramondetta: Joe was responding to a Security Police jeep that had gotten stuck in mud on the side of a hill. He was driving a loader with a bucket on the front. By the time Joe had gotten into position to tow the jeep out, the driver had been able to get out of the mud. Joe then started to drive up the hill, but being it was night time, he couldn't see as the headlights were blocked by the bucket. Joe then raised the bucket until he could see and proceeded up the hill. Once he got to a certain point on the hill, his vehicle became top heavy and flipped over backwards and rolled down the hill. The overhead cage on the loader collapsed and Joe was crushed under the weight of the vehicle. He suffered for a few days it seems before he passed away. I only knew him for a few months, but in that time we had become good friends. The memory of him still brings tears to me till this day. He was a good friend and a good man. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Tom Ramondetta (August 2017)]