THE WALL OF FACES

Private First Class Joseph Anthony Aguirre, Served with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, United States Army Vietnam.

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt, "Citizen in a Republic", April 23, 1910

Joe and I went through Basic Training and Advanced Infantry Training together. We then went to Viet Nam. I lost contact with Joe, and then when I was medically evacuated I read in the Stars and Stripes that Joe had been killed. He told me before we shipped out that he had gotten married while on leave. He was a good man.

DEAR PFC AGUIRRE,
THANK YOU FOR BEING A GRUNT. IT IS APPRECIATED. REST IN PEACE.

I went through both basic and advanced infantry training with Joseph. The last time we talked was just before we went home on leave prior to going to Viet Nam.
Joseph told me he was getting married.
I remember a very kind young man. I read about his death in the Stars and Stripes while being medical evacuated to Japan.