THE WALL OF FACES

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

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.

Pfc. Adolfo Bejarano Jr. of Port Isabel, Texas, was overweight when he first talked of joining the Marines. He abruptly went on a strict diet and exercise program, and he stuck with it until he could meet the entrance requirements.

The Laguna Heights (TX) Community Park is now named "Bejarano-McFarland Park," after Adolfo and 1st Lt. Louis Henry McFarland, another local young man who was also killed while on a tour of duty in Vietnam. Adolfo is honored on Panel 41W, Row 51 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He was 24. His obituary ran in the Brownsville Herald.

In late September 1968, 1st Marine Division intelligence detected the presence of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 21st Regiment, 2nd Division, 141st Regiment, and the 368B Rocket Regiment near the Thuong Duc Camp, southwest of Da Nang in Quang Nam Province, RVN. In an early morning attack on September 28th, the PAVN overran two of the camp's outposts. The 7th Marine Regiment, supported by the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, and 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, were tasked with relieving the siege around Thuong Duc. A decisive battle began at 0400 hours on October 12th, following a preparatory mortar attack of forty 82mm rounds, as a PAVN company attacked the 2/5 Marines for control of the hills overlooking Route 4. As the North Vietnamese infantry attacked, mortar fire continued. The NVA focused their attack on Company E on Hill 163. Using a heavy volume of small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenade fire, the enemy closed within grenade-throwing range. Company E held fast, calling in extensive fire support, which involved more than 1,000 rounds of artillery (including 8-inch howitzers), mortar fire, attack aircraft, and AC-47 gunship support. The Marines reported killing 46 PAVN and capturing one for the loss of 8 Marines killed. The commander of 2nd Battalion later commented that the “particular vicious attack against E Company…almost succeeded.” The lost Marines included PFC Adolfo M. Bejarano, PFC Henry J. Kuykendall, LCPL Wiley L. Martin, PFC John E. Metzler, LCPL David A. Pietraszak, PFC Luis F. Saavedra, PFC James L. Thomas Jr., and PFC Michael L. Wasserman. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, wikipedia.org, and “U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Defining Year 1968” at marines.mil]