THE WALL OF FACES

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

Dear Sp4 Ronald Olson, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Yesterday was Washington’s birthday, and Lent has begun. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Dear Sp4 Ronald Olson, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Yesterday was Washington’s birthday, and Lent has begun. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Specialist Four Ronald Leon Olson, Served with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division.

Hi, I am Ronald Olson but everyone calls me Chuck. I left my home in New Hampshire to be assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division in the central highlands area of Vietnam. My buddies would call me quiet and reserved, at least compared to a lot of the others, but always dependable, reliable, and a straight arrow.

None of us wanted to be here but thought it our National obligation to serve our country. I left my wife and family for a journey that would tragically end on 24 November, 1969. It was a hot steamy day in Vietnam, just like so many others, but today we were getting resupplied out in the jungle while on a “search and destroy” mission. That meant mail from home, new stock of C-rations, water, ammo and whatever else we needed. The chopper came in with the supplies and they were unloaded and we went about distributing the new supplies and mail. When we got all the water we needed from the water blivot, the chopper was coming to pick it up. Jack Deeter and I were sent to the clearing to load the blivot on the chopper while my buddies were busy with the resupply. However, we didn’t know the VC had moved in for an ambush (probably saw the resupply chopper to locate our position). Jack and I triggered the ambush and paid the ultimate sacrifice! Had we not done so, it could have ended in tragedy for our buddies, but we had removed the element of surprise. Two young American lives lost that day, but the only good thing is that by giving our lives, we quite possibly saved others.

Those that have not served in combat cannot understand the very close brotherhood that results from that experience, but you get as much or more concerned for your buddies as yourself. Our deaths came too quickly for our buddies to help, but at least we helped protect them.