THE WALL OF FACES

Leo was my classmate at Infantry AIT in Fort Lewis, WA, in the spring of 1967. His bunk was above mine in our old WWII barracks. Leo was a good looking, easy going, born leader. Anyone who knew Leo and called him a friend was a lucky person. I was very sorry to hear of his death in a firefight in Vietnam. RIP Leo! As the old saying goes, “A person is not really gone until everyone who knew him is gone too.”

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotions and spends himself in a great worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end triumph of high achievement and, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while caring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold, timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt

Dear Lt Leo Mullen, Thank you for your service as an Infantry Unit Commander. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is almost Christmas, Merry Christmas. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

SP4 Danny R. Scott served with 1st Platoon, C Company, 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. On January 7, 1969, his unit was on a mission in the dense jungle northwest of Tay Ninh, about 8 miles from the Cambodian border. As his company were returning to Fire Support Base Washington, they were split in half after the lead element walked past several well concealed NVA bunkers. The NVA waited for several of the soldiers to walk past the bunkers and into the jungle before they opened up with everything they had. SP4 Scott was killed as he fired upon the NVA. Charlie Company had to fire carefully at the NVA as the enemy were between the main element of C Co. and the lead element. Five men died in the firefight and a sixth (SP4 William Francisco Jr.) died three days afterwards from wounds received. The three other lost soldiers included 1LT Leo R. Mullen, SGT Robert J. Bowlin, SP4 James K. Merrell, and SP4 Craig S. Olson. A seventh soldier was missing in action. SGT Larry D. Welsh, who had been lightly wounded during the fight, disappeared while seeking aid for another wounded soldier. Although one wounded soldier and the body of another were recovered when U.S. forces returned to the area the following day, SGT Welsh was not found. He was carried as Missing in Action until February 11, 1974, when the Secretary of the Army approved a Presumptive Finding of Death. (Narrative by David DeMauro) [Taken from c322association.org and virtualwall.org]

Dear 1LT Leo Robert Mullen, 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, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter