THE WALL OF FACES

Cpl. Frederick Lee Benishek,

I never met you. In fact, I was born in 2000, with much of the Vietnam war in a forgotten past.

I discovered wewillremember.us through the news, which allows you to receive a random service member’s dog tag to remember and honor. I just now opened the package and found that its you. I have never met you, but reading some of these messages has me in tears. You lost your life at the age of 20, while at 23 I have graduated college and never lived a life of war. I wish that I was able to meet you. I wish that you were able to grow old and start a family.

Although I will never have met, or will meet you, I promise not to forget you, and to honor your memory. Thank you for your sacrifice. May you be at eternal peace.

Thank you Marine CPL Fredrick Benishek for your service and great sacrifice that you made. Forever one of our Heroes. May you rest in peace. Know you will never be forgotten and the grief that is felt by your love ones is never ending. God bless and prayers for those that still miss you and will always honor your memory.

If I remember correctly, it would have been April sixty-nine
you were my Fire Team Leader, so you were likely there for some time.
You could have easily become a team leader, after the first fire fight
as we seem to take a lot of casualties, anyway we hit it off right.

There was a lot of us on Hill 37 - we hung together
it's been a long time - I spent most of my life trying not to remember.
When I first arrived in country, I was just a grunt
we went on patrols routinely, you would never let me up front.

The point man you would do yourself, naturally putting yourself in greater jeopardy
looking back, I think you preferred to use your experience rather than a green rookie.
Your awareness to that of a new grunt, walking us into ambush or bobby trap
you were good at it, but it took a toll, not knowing when you would get zapped.

While I don't remember time frames exactly, at some point you wanted out
becoming a door gunner on a chopper, is what you had talked about.
You generally could at least be safe, on a comfortable base
better than running around, looking for the enemy in this place.

I remember specifically, you wanted to open a pancake shop in Antigo
perhaps that was something that came to you, one night in a foxhole.
One day you were gone, much to my disappointment - my surprise
not knowing where you went - what happened, until I returned stateside.

You see, on June 11th I was shot by a sniper - I spent months healing on hospital floors
a friend brought me an obituary of a Marine killed in combat - that obituary was yours.
That is pretty much my store, based on my conversations with you
just wanted to survive - getting the hell out, we both knew.

Fred you made a lasting impression on me, though our friendship was brief
a selfless caring person with unfinished dreams, I can only imagine your families grief.
I want to come visit your family - visit your grave, but it will not be without difficulty
like your family, I think of you often - perhaps someday, someday hopefully.

This is a summary of Dave's letter written to me. I made it into poem as if Dave were speaking to my brother Fred. By Brother James

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

I remember you from when i was a little girl. You are my cousin and I was only about 10 when i watched as you were buried. I will never forget. I went into the military when i was seventeen because of you and my father and uncles. Thank God i had no war. Love you fred. Cathy