THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Cpl Mark Pontius, Thank you for your service as an Armor Crewman. Yesterday was your 51st anniversary, sad. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Yesterday was Memorial Day when our nation remembers your sacrifice. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Mark was my baseball coach, he was a left handed pitcher. We did not have much of a team or a ball field in Coral. Some how we were able to get a corner of a field, south of town, we as a whole team worked on carving out a diamond to play ball. He married a very nice gal from Trufant named Diane, before he was shipped out. He was not in the war very long before he was killed.

Mark coached Coral Mi little league. He was a high school kids that took the time to teach us. No uniforms, maybe 3 bats and some telephone poles for a back stop. His young wife came to the field and told us when Mark died. Every year there is a baseball in his honor at the Enid OK Vietnam Wall which is at the airport, east of town. His family remembers his and we do also.

Corporal Mark Durwood Pontius, Served with H Troop, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 198th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division.

My high school daughter was assigned your name in effort to create a video about your service and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. As a mother, sister, and citizen I honor your service and recognize the great sacrifice that you and your loved ones made for me, my family and country.