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.

I went to school with Larry, was in Nam before him and back home when he was KIA.
My grandsons and I are proud to help see after his grave.

Dear Ssgt Robert Oaks, Thank you for your service as an Airborne Qualified Infantry Operations & Intelligence Specialist. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is another cold winter day. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

SSG Robert L. Oaks was a U.S. Army Ranger serving with M Company, 75th Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade. On November 11, 1969, SSG Oaks was with a Ranger team conducting a reconnaissance mission north of the Dong Nai River, ten miles northwest of Xa Gia Tan, on Highway QL-20 in Long Khanh Province, RVN, when they made contact with the point element of a much larger enemy unit. Small arms and automatic weapons fire was traded between the two forces. Oaks was killed in the exchange, and another Ranger was wounded. A Light Fire Team consisting of helicopter gunships provided support to the Rangers. After a 20-minute battle, the enemy broke contact. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

We had each others back!