THE WALL OF FACES

There is a place
Not far from here
Where spirits walk
And heroes live
And honor still resides.

It is a wall
With names inscribed
Of those who served
When they were asked...
The brothers of my youth.

I go there still
To walk and think
About my life,
And what I've done since
And things that might have been.

There is a debt
I can't repay
Too many lives were spent.
And one man's life cannot suffice
To make their deaths worthwhile.

But there is hope
In the memory
Of those we leave behind
Who know the price that freedom brings
Who can carry on in kind.

I send you now
To touch a name
So the vision can be passed
Remember there is honor still
It is for you to see it lasts.

They are not dead
And have a wish
As all old soldiers do
The reflection you see before you now
Is their wish to live in you.

Dear Sgt Stephen McCarvel, Thank you for your service as a Light Air Defense Artillery Crewmember. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Time passes quickly, but our world needs help. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

I was 12 years old, when we were informed of your ultimate sacrifice to our country. We all cried. I still remember, you buying us ice cream in Great Falls. Even then, it was plain to see, that you had a hero's attitude. You were a leader, and a protector of those around you. So it does not surprise me, that you gave your life, protecting those in your platoon. I miss you cousin. But I know, that you are with your mom and dad, and brothers in heaven. It gives me great comfort, to know, that I will see you again. Your little cousin Bruce, USMC veteran. Eye has not seen, nor ear has heard, the things that he has prepared for them, that love him.

On May 24, 1969, engineers from C Company, 19th Engineer Battalion, were conducting a mine sweep on Highway QL-1 in Quang Ngai Province, RVN, when they were ambushed by the Viet Cong approximately two miles northeast of the city of Tam Quan. The assault on the convoy began at 6:20 AM when the engineers were attacked with automatic weapons, small arms, M79, and B-40 rocket fire. The rockets hit several of the engineer’s vehicles including a ¾-ton truck, a 5-ton dump truck, an ambulance, and two M42 40 mm “Duster” tracked-vehicles. The engineers dismounted their vehicles and returned fire. Five men assaulted the VC in a tree line 50 yards east of the road. Four of them died in the attempt. The VC then came from the tree line and overran the dump truck hit by the rocket and killed one American and captured one M16 and three M14 rifles. A reaction force arrived at 6:55 AM and stabilized the situation. One crewmen of a Duster, SGT Stephen L. Mc Carvel, was killed, and two others wounded after rockets hit their tracked vehicle. The rocket which struck the ¾-ton truck wounded five, and another two Americans were wounded by small arms and automatic weapons fire. The five lost engineers were SP4 Mark W. Fenner, PVT Elmer E. Fields, PFC David A. Hargens, SP4 Gary A. Neavor, and SP4 Stanley Turner. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

Stephen Lewis Mc Carvel
ON THE WALL: Panel W24 Line 98
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PERSONAL DATA:
Home of Record: Great Falls, MT
Date of birth: 10/04/1949
MILITARY DATA:
Service Branch: Army of the United States
Grade at loss: E5
Rank: Sergeant
Promotion Note: None
ID No: 18807958
MOS or Specialty: 16F40: Light Air Defense Artillery Crewmember
Length Service: 01
Unit: C BTRY, 4TH BN, 60TH ARTILLERY, I FIELD FORCE, USARV
CASUALTY DATA:
Start Tour: 02/26/1968
Incident Date: 05/24/1969
Casualty Date: 05/24/1969
Age at Loss: 19
Location: Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died outright
Casualty Reason: Ground casualty
Casualty Detail: Multiple fragmentation wounds
Status Date: Not Applicable; was not MIA
Status Change: Not Applicable; was not MIA
Repatriated: Not Applicable; was not MIA
Identified: Not Applicable; was not MIA
URL: www.VirtualWall.org/dm/MccarvelSL01a.htm
Data accessed: 9/12/2017