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.

Dear Cousin… loved you then and love you now!
Miss you and your sweetness and your humor.

During the second week of February 1971, the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division was conducting combat operations in the three-province area of Bien Hoa, Long Khanh and Phuoc Tuy, RVN. There was a marked increase in enemy activity over the previous week, especially north of National Highway QL-1. A mining incident on February 9th killed three U.S. soldiers and wounded another. At 11:30 AM, D Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry and the 621st Regional Forces (RF) Company detonated an unknown type boobytrap while patrolling four miles north of Hung Loc in Long Khanh Province, RVN. Four RF soldiers were also killed, including one Kit Carson Scout, and five RF were wounded. The lost Americans were infantrymen SP4 James A. McIntyre and PFC Michael C. Lawson, and medic PFC Daniel F. Farrell. Ten minutes later, while processing the casualties, they began receiving small arms fire. The combined forces returned fire with unit weapons and were supported by artillery, Light Fire Teams (helicopter gunships), and air strikes. At 12:30 PM a medivac UH-1H helicopter dispatched to remove the casualties was hit with eight rounds of small arms fire and crashed. The UH-1H was recovered at 2:45 PM. Farrell and Lawson were posthumously promoted to Corporal. [“Operational Report – Lessons Learned, Headquarters, 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Period 1 November ’70 to 28 February ‘71” at dtic.mil]

Mac, I'll never forget our last talk before y'all went up on the mountain. I know you would have made a great New York cop.

Dear Sp4 James McIntyre, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. 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.