THE WALL OF FACES

than that man lay down his life for a friend."

Semper Fi, Doc...you are not forgotten.

I had the pleasure of being in the Boot Camp with David at the Navy Base in San Diego California, during late 1966. Our company commander was Master Chief Lauber. Who was always right and could smell out anything that we came up with!
David and I bonded like we had been the closest of lifelong friends. We were inseparable whenever given the chance to work together. David typically had the sense not to push the chief too far unlike some of us. There was not a person in the company that did not like David as he was fair, honest, kind in actions and had a great personality.
At the end of boot camp, we vowed to never lose contact with each other. On that parting day, David gave me an envelope that I was not to open unit I arrived at my home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. On arriving home, I open the envelope to find he had sketched us parting by from boot camp to go in different directions. The sketch shows the true side of David as he is with tears and a broken heart. A truer friendship than we can ever imagine was shown in that sketch; a sketch that I have missed placed one occasions. While it was lost, I prayed that someday I find that special remembrance of our friendship that I could picture in my heart while I looked to find David to renew our friendship.
This acknowledgement of David’s friendship comes about because on the eve of his death, 50 years ago, is when I found three of the letters he had written me. This brought me to search the internet one last time as to where he was currently living, as I did not know of his death in Viet Nam. With putting the search ending with “Navy 1966” it brought me to the Viet Nam War Memorial Wall. I know now that David is residing with the Lord. David, I did not know why you stopped sending letters, but on Friday March 22, 2019 you sent me one last message to find those letters and find closure to why for some 50 years I was not able to find you. With finding three of your letters, I found the last letter contained a small prayer book titled “The Windows of Gold”. I will treasure that for the rest of my life.

I read of how you lost your life and with the short time of knowing you I could see you taking that chance with your life to save another. To those of you who were there on that fateful day “March 23, 1969” thank you for being there with David. Without any reservations in my heart, I know you are with our Lord.

With a sad heart “Love” from your boot camp brother.

George Fairbanks

Your 51st anniversary is soon, so sad.

Dear PO3C David Overstreet, Thank you for your service as a Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class with the 4th Marines, Semper Fi. Thank you for the lives you saved. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. 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.

Thank you Doc Overstreet for your courage and devotion to us, your Marines.