THE WALL OF FACES

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrances from those who served with you are touching and reflect their admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

Dear Lcpl Michael McLendon, Thank you for your service as an Antitank Assaultman. Your 54th anniversary is soon, sad.Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is Labor Day weekend. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

PFC Earnest L. Beam, 2LT Ivars Lama, LCPL Michael R. McLendon, and LCPL John E Paddock were all members of 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. On September 11, 1966, the four marines were traveling in an M422 Mighty Mite lightweight 4x4 tactical truck in Quang Nam Province, RVN. When they were approximately 2 miles northeast of Hoi An the vehicle hit a mine. All four suffered fatal fragmentation wounds in the incident. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

Like Cpl. Bradley, I too served with Mike in H&S Co. 1/5, 2/3 and 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. My wish was, and still is, that Mike had stayed with us and not left 1/1. A year later he returned to 1/1 just as my 13 month tour was ending and I was being rotated back to the States. It was just days after I left that he was killed. He was a good friend, and I was truly saddened by his passing. When I left Quang Nam things were really heating up, and I am sure Mike was in the thick of it. Mike was a good Marine and a lot of fun. We nicknamed him "Humble" because of his demeanor. He also loved to play elaborate ruses on us. One in particular we all fell for... hook line and sinker! He had us all believing he inherited millions of dollars. What a jokester, I think of him often.