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.

PS - Your 71st birthday is soon. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Dear Sp4 Patrick Morris, Thank you for your service as an Armor Reconnaissance Specialist. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is 2nd Week of Advent, and this week means peace. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

At 9:15 AM on June 30, 1971, a three-quarter ton truck filled with C4 explosive and ammunition blew up in the F Troop area at Camp Faulkner near Da Nang in Quang Nam Province, RVN. The explosion killed four U.S. personnel and injured another nineteen. Several Vietnamese civilians were also injured. All the victims of the blast were taken to the 95th Evacuation Hospital in Da Nang. The cause of the explosion was undetermined. An investigation found the truck to be carrying an unknown quantity of C4 explosive, 40 pounds of shaped charges, assorted types of grenades, and an unknown amount of M16 ammunition. The violent explosion destroyed nine buildings and heavily damaged ten more. The four lost Americans included SP4 Phillip W. Bridges, SP4 Patrick B. Morris, SP4 Steven C. O’Neal, and SP4 John R. Houston. SP4 Bridges was last seen standing on top of the truck before the blast, and only scattered unidentifiable tissue and parts of a uniform were found that could be related to him. Bridges was initially reported as missing, and upon further investigation, declared dead, body not recoverable. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “3 GIs Killed, 8 Hurt in Ammo Truck Explosion.” Pacific Stars & Stripes, July 2, 1971]

Dear SP4 Patrick Bennett Morris, 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