THE WALL OF FACES

two views of an excelent soldier

SSG McMains is buried very close to one of my units Vietnam dead, buried at Pacific View Cemetery, Newport Beach, Ca. Each Veterans/Memorial Day I place a flag on this heros grave, along with several more. His headstone indicates a Silver Star, Bronze Star & 3 Purple Hearts! Semper Fi Jim Kaylor E/2/26th Marines 67-68

McMains, "Scotty", was the most personable and energetic of the B 2-22 squad leaders and the most responcible, which is why he was still in the field with his 3-1 squad after 9 months. He was also walking point because 3-1 only had 3 in the field that sad day in the Boi Loi as the platoon swept through a jungle base area and was shot by one of its guards. He and a couple of ARVN were the only killed that day, with several others wounded. It was a great loss to America, if unrecognized , as there were not many in the college crowd or the avoiders who could match his character.

I did not know Donald McMains very well. I was only acquainted with him for about 12 weeks in the summer of 1968, at Fort Benning Georgia. We were classmates in NCOC Class 33 of the 71st Co. Being trained as Infantry NCOs, to replace all the Infantry Non Commissioned Officers being killed in Vietnam. I see by the record that he died Aug 9,1969 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He probably shipped to Vietnam about the same time I did, late October or early Novemeber 1968. That puts his death sometime in his ninth or tenth month in country. That's late in a tour to die. We lost 16 classmates in Vietnam. Donald was number 14. To make it so far through your tour, and then die with two months to go is especially sad. He should have had a rear area assignment with ten months in country, bur sometimes us "Shake N Bakes" didn't get much respect from the regular Army, and they kept us in the field to the bitter end. Seeing no rememberance on "The Wall" for Donald, I feel compelled to say something, you deserve more than this, I'm sure. I'm sorry Donald, for you and your family.