THE WALL OF FACES

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed...
We feel lucky to have seen it.

Dear Sp4 Larry Meloy, Thank you for your service as an Indirect Fire Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Today is POW/MIA Recognition Day, and another summer is coming to end. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

The letter posted from Ken Morse of Metairie, Louisiana is an accurate account of the evening when Larry and the other two soldiers from A2/16 were killed. Unlike other sites that suggest Larry was missing in action, that simply is not true. I was a member of the company hq group and probably about 50 yds from Larry when he was killed. I helped load the three bodies into the helicopter the next morning.

Dear a.s. meloy,
You don't know me, but i read your message on the
virtual wall and wanted to respond. It has now been
33 years since larry was killed and it has taken me a
long time to do what i should have done years ago and
i am sorry that i didn't do this earlier. i was present when larry
was killed along with two other soldiers, michael
harris, of hopkinsville, kentucky, and robert paul
o'nail of nelsonville, ohio. we were with co. a
2/16th infantry rangers of the first infantry division
and we were on a village seal, where we completely
surround the village at night and then the next day
search for the enemy. the previous night we had moved
into the area around 11:00 p.m. and received small
arms fire without any casualties. the next day we did
not find any enemy in the village and stayed in place
for another night. i was on position with larry and
michael until about 6:00 p.m. at that time our
platoon seargent prather took me off of this position
and placed me in the next one exchanging robert and
myself for one another. all positions were digging
foxholes for the night and filling sandbags to place
over the foxhole for protection. a light rain started
to fall around 6:30 p.m. and everyone was hurrying to
get everything in place. larry, michael and robert
were about 60 feet from our position. i was holding a
sandbag that was being filled by one of the soldiers i
was with and facing larry's position. one of the
soldier's in larry's group swung his entrenching tool
down towards the ground to get dirt to put into the
sandbag and when the tool hit the ground there was a
tremendous explosion from their position, killing all
three of them instantly. it was too dark at that time
to tell what caused this to happen, but in the morning
we realized that they must have been standing on top
of a land mine and hit it with the tool causing it to
explode. i am very sorry for your great loss and
sorry it took all of these years for your family to
find out the truth. it was only my second night in
the field and was an experience that i will always
live with and wonder why i was moved from that
position shortly before they died. i always remember
them in my prayers and all three were really great
young men.

sincerely
ken morse
metairie, louisiana

Dear SP4 Larry John Meloy, 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