THE WALL OF FACES

Landing Zone (LZ) Bronco was a U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army base located on National Route QL-1 adjacent to Duc Pho Airfield midway between Da Nang and Qui Nhon in Quang Ngai Province, RVN. It was originally established as LZ Montezuma by the U.S Marine Corps' Task Force X-Ray with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines based there until April 1, 1967, when they were replaced by the 1st Cavalry Division. The base later became part of the 4th Infantry Division, then the 25th, before becoming an Americal Division installation. At 6:45 PM on June 1, 1969, LZ Bronco received 140mm enemy rocket fire. The barrage killed four Americans and wounded one other. The lost personnel included SP4 Louis A. Gordils, SP4 Ruben Lopez-Merced, PFC Jaime Padilla-Jorge, and SP4 Jose L. Sanchez. Padilla-Jorge was posthumously promoted to Corporal. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

Dear Cpl Jaime Padilla-Jorge, Thank you for your service as a Wire Systems Installer. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Lent has begun, and today is the last day of standard time. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Corporal Jaime Padilla-Jorge, Served with Company B, 523rd Signal Battalion, Americal Division, United States Army Vietnam.

I remember looking up at your picture at grandma's house and asking her who is that, she had tears in her eyes when she asked me if I remembered you at all. I was sad to say no, but that night you paid me a visit to my room, I can remember looking into your face and seeing the birthmark in your eye so clearly. I ran to grandma's room and told her, she cried, I cried it is a sad but memorable moment in my life. I was 13 y/o at the time. I don't know why you came to me but I know that somehow someway you influenced my life and I proudly served unknowingly in the same field you did in the Army Signal Corp! Shoot, Move, Communicate! You can talk CRAP about us but you can't talk CRAP without us! Love and Respect, Your nephew Richie Padilla