THE WALL OF FACES

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

Dear Sp4 Gary Neavor, Thank you for your service as a Combat Engineer. The 52nd anniversary of the start of your tour just passed. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It’s a New Year, but not necessarily better. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

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 were 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]

Dear SP4 Gary Arnold Neavor, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter

My brother, Mark Fenner, served with Gary. We remember all who paid the ultimate price on May 24th, 1969.
Mark's sister