THE WALL OF FACES

Hill 34 was a sprawling 1st Marine Division base camp located five kilometers (3.0 miles) southwest of Da Nang in Quang Nam Province, RVN. On February 26, 1971, a Marine engineer equipment mechanic was fatally injured in an accidental discharge incident on the base. Reportedly, SGT Roy L. Petty from Headquarters & Service Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, was in his unit’s area when another Marine inadvertently fired a .45 caliber pistol. The errant round struck Petty in the head, killing him. His body was transported to a medical dispensary where a Navy doctor in attendance declared him dead. The remains were transferred to the U.S. Army Mortuary at Da Nang and released to Graves Registration personnel. Following processing, they were sent to Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon, then flown to Travis Air Base in California before being returned to his family in Texas. Petty, 20, had only 41 days left on his tour of Vietnam after he extended six months following the completion of his obligatory 11 months of service. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Roy L. Petty Killed In Vietnam Accident.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, TX), March 9, 1971]

Image courtesy of Redbird Research LLC, Saint Charles, MO.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Dear Sgt Roy Petty, Thank you for your service as an Engineer Equipment Mechanic. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. The 46th anniversary of the fall of Saigon just passed, and it is still sad. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

On the remembrance of your 70th Birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine.