THE WALL OF FACES

Staff Sergeant Arthur Cecilio Aguirre, Served with Company A, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 199th Infantry Brigade, United States Army Vietnam.

DEAR SSGT. AGUIRRE,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A GRUNT. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.

Remembering my Dad and his sacrifice along with the many other Fallen Heroes who gave their lives for our country. I have not been to this sight in over a year and was taken away by last year's Memorial post (2014) by Jessica Silva. I wish I could personally thank you for the timing of your jog last year and having a divine encounter with another Hero who served with my Dad. Thank you so much for posting your experience. I was very moved emotionally has I read your post. Thank you again and God bless you and your loved ones. And to the elderly man who knew my Dad, thank you for your service and the bond you had with my daddy.

Yesterday, on Memorial Day 2014, I went for my morning run through a quiet park in KY. As I came to the top of the hill I saw the sight of the traveling wall and remembered hearing it was in town. (I hadn't seen one since I was a kid). I was walking around, row by row, to try to find my Uncle's relative on the wall. An elderly gentleman approached me and asked if I knew how to find people's names, was it alphabetical? Did it go by year? I said I wasn't sure but that I'd help him look. He told me "I'm looking for Aguirre, A-G-U-I-R-R-E and he died in 1967." We looked section by section for well over an hour before we finally enlisted the help of a volunteer. The elderly gentleman (I never caught his name) came trotting over and said "he's in 14E row 78!" We went over to panel 14E and us not knowing the dots were placed every 20 names, we counted down 78 rows to Arthur C. Aguirre. I said "here he is!" He stood up (he was kneeling) and said, "YOU FOUND HIM!!" He moved in really close and put his fingers up on the wall and rubbed his name over and over while putting his head in his hands. I told him I'd give him some time with SSGT Aguirre, and backed away. He told me they served together in Vietnam, but that was about it. As soon as I got to work today, I looked him up, knowing he must have been an amazing man. To his family, he is not forgotten...

Dear SSGT Arthur Cecilio Aguirre, 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, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter