THE WALL OF FACES

There is a place
Not far from here
Where spirits walk
And heroes live
And honor still resides.

It is a wall
With names inscribed
Of those who served
When they were asked...
The brothers of my youth.

I go there still
To walk and think
About my life,
And what I've done since
And things that might have been.

There is a debt
I can't repay
Too many lives were spent.
And one man's life cannot suffice
To make their deaths worthwhile.

But there is hope
In the memory
Of those we leave behind
Who know the price that freedom brings
Who can carry on in kind.

I send you now
To touch a name
So the vision can be passed
Remember there is honor still
It is for you to see it lasts.

They are not dead
And have a wish
As all old soldiers do
The reflection you see before you now
Is their wish to live in you.

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

Love missed I was 7 he died I do remember him bought us Tonia trucks great human

Dear Lcpl Johnny Martinez, Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. Your 72nd birthday is soon, happy birthday. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Independence Day is this weekend. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

LCPL Johnny S. Martinez was a rifleman serving with Combined Action Program (CAP) 1-3-3, Combined Action Company (CACO) 1-3, 1st Combined Action Group (CAG), Combined Action. On November 25, 1968, LCPL Martinez deliberately entered a minefield to rescue two Vietnamese children who had strayed into the area. Martinez was critically injured when he inadvertently triggered a mine, suffering fragmentation wounds to the head and body. He was medevacked to the 95th Evacuation Hospital in Da Nang where he succumbed to his injuries three days later. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org; obituary from the Ephraim Enterprise, dated December 19, 1968, courtesy of Lori Jones Voshall, Director, Ephraim Public Library, Ephraim, Utah]