THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Sgt Jerry Martin, Thank you for your service with the 329th Transportation Company, You are still MIA. Please come home. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Father’s Day just passed, and it’s summer. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Be at peace.

outdoorsman, great fisherman, never a dull moment, never met a stranger.he and his crewmates we think were taken pow.. one body returned seven years later.

The 5th Transportation Command (Terminal) had the duty of running the extensive Qui Nhon port and served under the U.S. Army Support Command, Qui Nhon. The 5th Transportation Command was later deployed to Da Nang, and had battalions serving Vung Tau and Cat Lai. Among its duties were support of amphibious operation and supplying ammunition and ordnance to operational units, primarily by heavy boat. On the afternoon of November 2, 1970, SGT Dennis I. Day, SGT Richard C. Dority, SGT David L. Ginn, SGT Perry C. Kitchens, SGT Arlie R. Mangus, SGT Jerry D. Martin, SSGT Calvin A. Norris, SGT James R. Pantall, SFC John D. Shewmake, SGT David W. Woods, and PFC Billie H. Peeples were the crew of a landing craft, LCU #63, which departed Da Nang en route to Tan My, South Vietnam on a resupply mission. The LCU was a heavy craft able to carry large loads of ammunition. At 1010 hours on November 3, 1970, helicopter pilots sighted the craft capsized about 5 nautical miles south of Tan My port. In an initial search by air/sea rescue, however, no sign of the crew of the LCU were observed. There was no apparent hostile action, and the reason for the incident is unknown. On November 6, the remains of Billy H. Peoples were recovered near Cu Loi Island, fully rigged in a life jacket. During the period of December 4-20, attempts were made to salvage the craft and locate the crew. Divers gained access to all compartments and voids of the craft, but no survivors or evidence of remains were found. Pieces of clothing, small arms ammo, cans and a radio were recovered. On March 16, 1977, the body of Perry Kitchens was returned to U.S. control and subsequently positively identified. There has been no word of the rest of the crew. The missing eight men were all presumed to have drowned, and the U.S. Army believes there is no chance to ever recover the eight men missing from LCU-63. [Taken from pownetwork.org]

Dear SGT Jerry Dean Martin, 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

Jerry is buried at Mundell Church Cemetery, Heltonville, Lawrence County,IN.