THE WALL OF FACES

WOMAN WEARS POW MIA BRACELET FOR MORE THAN 38 YEARS


Kathy Strong was 12 years old when she put on a bracelet to keep vigil for a solider missing in Vietnam -- but now it's time for her to take it off


CBS EVENING NEWS - STEVE HARTMAN

WALNUT CREEK, California - 7 March 2011 -

While the war was raging in Vietnam, POW MIA bracelets were all the rage.

The metal bracelets, sold by the millions, each bore the name of a soldier who was either still a prisoner of war in Vietnam, or missing in action.

CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman reports the idea was to wear the bracelet and only take it off your wrist when your Veteran came home.

They were very popular with kids.


In 1972, when she was 12-years-old, Kathy Strong got a bracelet in her Christmas stocking.

' I was really excited,' Strong said. ' I read the paper that came with it. And I just thought. I'm going to keep it on until he comes home.'

Strong, now 50, still remembers the name: James Leslie Moreland.

Sergeant First Class Moreland was a Green Beret who'd been stationed in Lang Vei.

SFC Moreland went missing in the winter of 1968 after the enemy over took his position.

At the time, no one knew much more than that - so Kathy remained optimistic.

' They showed footage of the soldiers coming off the planes, and I always thought wherever he's flying into I'm going to be there and I'm going to give him my bracelet and I'm going to put it on his arm. That's how I always pictured it,' Strong said. ' But that wasn't meant to be.'

After so many years it became obvious, to even the most hopeful, that everyone who could come home alive had come home.

Eventually, the bracelets went the way of the pet rock.

However, Kathy Strong wore her bracelet much longer than most.

In fact, James Moreland's name has been on her wrist every day, without exception, for the past 38 years.

' I just wanted to keep the promise,' Strong said.

At this point, Strong says keeping the promise means wearing the bracelet until Moreland's remains are found and returned.

' I knew there was family out there who was waiting and I was just going to wait along with them,' Strong said.

Anita and Linda are James Moreland's sisters and closest surviving relatives.

When they heard about Kathy a few years ago they asked to meet.

' To have worn his bracelet for so long,' Anita said, ' we just love her to death.'

' She did care,' her sister Linda added. ' And she still does care.'

Strong said she thinks about Moreland everyday.

' It's usually when I have my hands out in front of me - you know, maybe driving a car or typing on the keyboard and I just think I wonder when he's coming home.'

She's been wondering almost 4 decades -- but no more.

In January, James Moreland's sisters got word that their brother's remains had been found and identified.

In May he'll be buried, between his mother and father, in a full military funeral.

Strong said she's ' going to remove the bracelet and have it buried with him.'





YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE





R E M E M B R A N C E

Remains Identified 13 OCT 2010.
Family notified 17 JAN 2011.
Family briefed 08 FEB 2011.
Memorial Service will be 14 MAY 2011.

Status at DPMO PMSEA website.

http:www.dtic.mildpmovietnamreportsdocumentspmsea_info_m080.htm

James "Les" Moreland was born and raised in the Birmingham, Alabama area. He moved to California for his senior year of high school at Western High School, Anaheim, California. At western he was a starting linebacker for the varsity team. He was named "All Orange County Linebacker" for 1963. He attended two years of junior college at Fullerton Junior College. He enlisted in the army Oct. 1, 1965. He spent nearly 2 years training as a Special Forces, Combat Medic. He started his tour in Vietnam on July 4, 1967. On Feb. 7, 1968 he was one of 24 Special Forces soldiers at the Base Camp at Lang Vei. In the early morning hours of Feb. 7, the NVA overan the camp with overwhelming numbers and armor. Les was critically wounded. In the late afternoon, under cover of heavy air support the camp was evacuated. Les had to be left in the command bunker due to the tactical situation. It is presumed that he died in the bunker. 8 of the 24 Soldiers, including Les, were carried as MIA until the end of the war. 3 returned after the "homecoming." During his MIA status, Les Moreland was promoted from SP4 to SP5. On Nov 5, 1978 SP5 Les Moreland was declared dead by the US Army and received postumous promotion to SFC.

You were among the brave who answered the call. You honored your country by your service and supreme sacrifice. Know that you are not forgotten. Your countrymen remember and honor you each and every time we stand and sing the words "...for the land of the free and the home of the brave".

Rest in Peace and God bless You

A Vietnam Veteran('67/'68)

p.s. I served in the Army near the DMZ when Lang Vei was overrun by NVA in early '68. In 2001 I returned to Vietnam and visited this area including the Lang Vei camp with my oldest son. The camp, which is just south of the old DMZ, is located very near to the Laotion border. The camp is now completely gone and overgrown with vegetation but marked with a solitary NVA tank that sits as a reminder of the battle that took place there in early '68. Some of the concret bunkers can still be found but most of the camp is gone. When I vistied Lang Vie I remembered what happened here and the men that were lost, including James Moreland.

Les, I did not know you but we are brothers. I will ride in Run For the Wall this year 2006, to honor you. You will not be forgotten. From Ontario Calif to Wash, DC your name will be on my windshield of my motorcycle. I will find your name at The Wall and say hello. I am riding this year because you cannot.