THE WALL OF FACES

War drew us from our homeland
In the sunlit springtime of our youth.
Those who did not come back alive remain
in perpetual springtime -- forever young --
And a part of them is with us always.

Dear Sp4 Michael Mannina, Thank you for your service as an Indirect Fire Infantryman. I researched you on your 73rd birthday, happy birthday. 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.

Michael, my older cousin, you were like the brother I never had. I think about you often especially recently as I have been hearing many vets talk about their service in Nam lately, for some strange reason. I am touched to see all these sites where we can remember. I remember writing you a letter while you were in the hospital and we all prayed for you. I hope you did get to read my letter. I remember your fiance crying at your wake. I was so upset I threw up when I got home. It was my first encounter with death. I remember doing a pencil rubbing of your name at the Memorial in DC seeing many like me in tears at the wall. I will always remember you. Love, Your cousin, Diane

I still think of you. I hear your voice sometimes. I wonder what you would look like on your 70th birthday, coming tomorrow. Would we have had children? Would we have lasted all these years? Can you see me? Sometimes I cry. My life has been good but the void your dying left is still there, like an ugly scar.
I still miss you.
XO
M

Michael slept on the bottom bunk bed I slept on the top. we became good friends. I later went to korea with the 7th infantry. mike went to viet nam. I had later found out that mike was killed in action. mike was from bellmore, I was from Levittown ny. god bless you mike.