THE WALL OF FACES

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

On the remembrance of your 75th birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Semper Fi, Doc

Hospitalman Third Class Daniel Patrick Birch was a U.S. Navy Corpsman, age 20, born February 28, 1946, from Los Angeles, CA. HM3 Birch arrived in Vietnam with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), III MAF, FMFPac, attached to Hotel Company for operational purposes. On March 4, Operation UTAH was launched under the command of Task Force Delta in the Son Thinh District of Quang Ngai Province where the Marines would encounter elements of the 21st NVA Regiment. On D-day 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines conducted a helicopter assault near the Chau Ngai complex of villages and was heavily engaged with a regiment of NVA regulars near Hill 50 and Hill 35. Elements of F Company and H Company were overrun but were able to recover and consolidate to a night position near Chau Ngai 4. By the end of D-Day, 2/7 counted 94 enemy KIA and estimated 63 WIA. Friendly losses were 44 KIA and 84 WIA. An additional 20+ persons received minor wounds and were not evacuated. The next day, 5 March, the battle moved to the North and 2/7 cleaned up the battlefields from the day before, recovering the dead, and clearing out caves and bunkers. On March 4, 1966, HM3 Birch was killed in action dying outright from multiple fragmentation wounds from an enemy explosive device. HM3 Birch is interred at Long Island National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York and is honored on the Vietnam Memorial on Panel 05E, Line 99.

Danny, We both grew up in Croton-on-Hudson, NY on different sides of the village. You near the Municipal Building and me in Harmon. We did manage to cross paths at different events in town. Great memories of our youth! God bless you! Your sacrifice for our country will never be forgotten. Semper Fi Bro. Bruce MacDougall
USN Seabees (1966 - 1969)

Played ball with him - in 1961 or so, In a vacant lot - - in Croton, NY.
How I miss those days! And his brothers.
How I miss ..................