THE WALL OF FACES

War drew us from our homeland
In the sunlit springtime of our youth.
Those who did not come back alive remain
in perpetual springtime -- forever young --
And a part of them is with us always.

Dear PFC Thomas Owens, Thank you for your service as an Armor Reconnaissance Specialist. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Lent has begun, and it is the end of winter. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Private First Class Thomas Earl Owens, Served with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

Dear PFC Thomas Earl Owens, 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

Tom was assigned to the 2nd Platoon, B Company 2nd Battalion 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division and I was the Medic at the time Tom died. I knew Thomas, but not very well as he had only been with us a few weeks.

We were on an Operation in the Long An Province in the Mekong Delta area of Vietnam when we were ambushed along side a small stream. We did not experience any wounded or killed in the initial action and afterwards we moved out of the thick jungle along the river into a rice paddy and set an ambush position up along a rice paddy dike. A short time later another of B Company's platoons started taking fire at their position which was relatively close by. During the course of that engagement artillery was called in on the enemy's position. One round was a short (meaning in fell short of it's intended target), which is classified as 'friendly fire' and landed in our 2nd Platoon position killing Thomas. Miraculously no others were killed or wounded. To this day I am still amazed by that.