THE WALL OF FACES

Dear First Lieutenant McCandlis~ You Are Not Forgotten!
This is the 4th year, on the anniversary of your passing, that I ran a mile with you in my thoughts and prayers. Rest in Peace, Dear Brother.

Each year since September 2015, at the annual 5th Division Army reunion, members of the Society of the Fifth Division, U.S Army remember the 514 soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 5th Division, who were Killed in Action in Vietnam. You are among the soldiers remembered. You Are Not Forgotten!

Phil “LT Mike” Maniscalco
Society of the 5th Division, U.S. Army
Delta Company 1/11 Infantry
Vietnam Sept 1968- Sept 1969

The 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division was dispatched to South Vietnam following the Tet Offensive in support of 3rd Marine Division forces deployed in Quang Tri Province. The brigade served from July 1968 until August 1971, contributing to the defense of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone. On February 5, 1970, a brigade junior officer died in a reported accidental discharge incident at Cam Lo Base Camp located four kilometers (2.5 miles) west of Cam Lo village. 1LT Owen T. McCandlis of A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry, died instantly after his assigned .45 caliber pistol fired a round into his left chest while he was clearing the weapon (a second report indicated he was “cleaning” the handgun). His aggrieved parents back in Snohomish, WA, contacted their local congressman, Representative Lloyd Meeds, for help after they complained of too many “conflicting” reports from official Army bureaus of how their son died. They were further anguished when the primary next of kin, Mrs. Elaine McCandlis, their son’s young wife, in her grief “desired complete dissociation” from all aspects of her husband’s manner of death and insisted on an immediate funeral. Subsequently, she refused to release any information to the parents regarding McCandlis’ loss. The Army labored to provide official and accurate answers to the parents’ questions; however, it is unclear if these efforts assuaged their numerous concerns. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

Dear Dear First Lieutenant McCandlis ~ You Are Not Forgotten!
This is the 3rd year, on the anniversary of your passing, that I ran a mile with you in my thoughts and prayers. Rest in Peace, Dear Brother.

Each year since September 2015, at the annual 5th Division Army reunion, members of the Society of the Fifth Division, U.S Army remember the 514 soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 5th Division, who were Killed in Action in Vietnam. You are among the soldiers remembered. You Are Not Forgotten!

Phil “LT Mike” Maniscalco
Society of the 5th Division, U.S. Army
Delta Company 1/11 Infantry
Vietnam Sept 1968- Sept 1969

Say not in grief he is no more, but live in thankfulness that he was.

Dear First Lieutenant McCandlis, You Are Not Forgotten!
This is the 2nd year, on the anniversary of your passing, that I ran a mile with you in my thoughts and prayers. Rest in Peace, Dear Brother.

Each year since September 2015, at the annual 5th Division Army reunion, members of the Society of the Fifth Division, U.S Army remember the 514 soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 5th Division, who were Killed in Action in Vietnam. You are among the soldiers remembered. You Are Not Forgotten!

Phil “LT Mike” Maniscalco
Society of the 5th Division, U.S. Army
Delta Company 1/11 Infantry
Vietnam Sept 1968- Sept 1969