THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us...

Corporal Gary Dean Bender, Served with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

DEAR CORPORAL BENDER,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A GRUNT. IT IS 2017, WHICH MAKES IT FAR TOO LONG FOR YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND YOUR SACRIFICE. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE.. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE.

Nui Ba Den is the mountaintop of an extinct volcano. It is about six miles outside of the city of Tay Ninh, Tay Ninh Province, RVN. There were different English translations for the name of the mountain: Black Virgin, Black Lady, and Black Widow. Used as a radio relay station for U.S. forces, it was supplied by helicopter for much of the war with the Americans controlling the top and the Viet Cong controlling the bottom and surrounding foothills. On June 16 1969, a sapper attack by Viet Cong troops attempted to overrun the site. SSGT David L. Collins, a diesel mechanic from Bien Hoa, who was on the mountain to service the power source, was killed after suffering multiple fragmentation wounds to his chest and abdomen. Three Army enlisted troops from Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC), 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, who were manning the bunker line were also killed. They included SP4 Thomas E. Hughes, CPL Gary D. Bender, and CPL Marvin C. White. A radio maintenance technician from the 553rd Electronics Maintenance Squadron, TSGT John Linaburg, assigned to temporary duty on the mountain top, was wounded. He was the 553rd Wing's first Purple Heart recipient. The enemy was eventually repelled, but it was a long night for those on the mountaintop. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, wikipedia.org, and westin553.net]

Dear CPL Gary Dean Bender, 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, Sir

Curt Carter