THE WALL OF FACES

Dear PFC Lewis H Proudfoot III, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

Semper Fi, Marine.

Lewis was born in Elverson and attended Twin Valley High School. He enjoyed motorcycles and water skiing, and worked as a farm helper prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps.
In Vietnam, Lewis was a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, 1st Marine Division. His family only received two letters while he was there, and he stated it wasn't too bad, but he did not like it.
His company was on Operattion Swift in Quang Tin Province when the troops walked into a night ambush. They had observed what they thought were fireflies, but turned out to be Viet Cong using penlights. The point man stepped on a mine and Lewis was killed in the ensuing fight.
Surviving at the time were his mother, father, two sisters and one brother.
He was in Vietnam three weeks.
He was 18 years old.

Semper Fidelis, Marine!

From the Berks County Vietnam Memoerial dedication booklet.

From Elverson, Berks county, arrived in the war-torn country only three weeks ago, according to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis H. Proudfoot Jr. Their son, Marine Pfc. Lewis Proudfoot 3d, was 18.
Proudfoot, the Defense Department reported, was killed by an enemy mine while fighting near Quang Tin. The youth had left Twin Valley High School last December and joined the Marines in February.
His sister, Joy, enlisted in the WACS about a month ago. Another sister, Ilka, and a brother, Estes, also survive. Proudfoot will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, his family said.

Semper Fidelis, Marine!

Chester Co. Marine Killed By Shrapnel

Marine Pfc. Lewis H. Proudfoot, 3d, 18, of R.D.2, Elverson, Chester County, was killed September 6 in action in Vietnam.
Proudfoot, a member of the 1st Marines, was killed by shrapnel near Quang Tin, the Defense Department told his family. He had been in Vietnam only about a month.
He enlisted in the Marines last February after attending Twin Valley High School. He is survived by his father, Lewis H. Jr., his mother, June; two sisters, Joy, 19, who is in the Woman's Army Corps, and Ilka, 12, and a brother, Estes, seven.
"He thought he was doing his duty," his mother commented.

Semper Fidelis, Marine!