THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Cpl Peter Mills, Thank you for your service as a Wireman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Halloween is the end of this week, Happy Halloween. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

CPL Peter R. Mills was a Field Wireman assigned to the Radio Relay & Construction Company, 7th Communication Battalion, III Marine Amphibious Force. On August 12, 1969, CPL Mills was serving as the driver of a M151A1 jeep carrying the Construction Platoon Commander and the newly arrived Company Commander, MAJ E.S. Lawbaugh. They were conducting a visit to a worksite where some Marines were installing electronic sensors near Hill 22, about twelve miles west of Da Nang in Quang Nam Province, RVN. Also traveling in the jeep was an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) soldier they picked up hitchhiking. When they were about a hundred yards from the worksite, a large explosion erupted beneath their vehicle when an estimated 40lb. box mine was detonated. The blast, believed to be command-detonated, killed Mills and the ARVN passenger, and tossed the two officers from the jeep. Viet Cong then came out to the road and raked the area with AK-47 fire. Marines at the worksite responded and came to the aid of the beleaguered Commo men. A medivac was requested, but due to the tactical situation on the ground, they were unable to land. Approximately two hours later, a vehicle arrived which carried the dead and wounded to Naval Support Activity Station Hospital in Da Nang. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Command Chronology for the 7th Communication Battalion for period 1-31 August 1969” at ttu.edu; also, from information provided by E.S. Lawbaugh (May 2020)]

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.

Pete and I met in boot camp in SanDiego, both of us went to the Naval Communictions Training Center in Pensacola Florida before Viet Nam.i know his wife and their two boys. Pete was a Brave Marine and my Best Friend in the Marine Corp. I pray Gods Blessings upon him and his family.
Thank You Pete for being my friend and fellow Marine.

Pete and I became Marines together. The last time we were together was the day before he shipped out to nam.. I never thought I would never see him again. I'll never forget you you brother, Semper Fi!!!!!