THE WALL OF FACES

On behalf of those who served with you in the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) and all who followed, we offer our respect and remembrance of your ultimate sacrifice. May you never be forgotten and your family and friends take comfort in your valor in serving.

Thank you PFC Raiford for your exemplary courage under fire.

Thank you PFC Raiford for your courage in dangerous times, in a dangerous place.

Dear PFC Charles Leroy Raiford Jr, 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

He loved us so.

Every day, in a hundred ways, he told us so.

In honesty, in affection, he told us so.

He loved us so.

Every day, in a hundred ways, he showed us so.

With loyalty and bravery, he showed us so.

He was our defender, and he kept us free!

He took an oath to guard us, and fought for liberty!

He loved us so, and we should know.

For we loved him so.

PFC Raiford, you had given all that mortality can give! You were one brave man who did brave deeds for our America! You had been there and done that! You were one of Pittsburgh's...and America's...bravest of knights, who fought for the right, without question or pause! Your name and fame are the birthright of EVERY American citizen! In your youth and strength...your love and loyalty...you had given all to defend liberty everywhere! You had brought honor to Pittsburgh, the home of heroes BRAVE AND TRUE!...yes, to the city where three rivers meet...to the home of the BUCS and the STEELERS! You had lived up to the code of conduct and chivalry of those who guard this beloved land...an ideal SO NOBLE that it arouses in all of us a sense of pride, and yet, of humility! I strongly and honestly believe that Jill Corey, whom Avonmore (her home town) and Pittsburgh (where she got her start) can claim as one of their own, and whom I greatly and immensely admire as one of my three top favorite songbirds of all time, which includes Julie Andrews, England's musical grande dame, and another thrush from England, London's Dusty Springfield, who passed on some years ago, would be very proud of your service to America, and the sacirifces made by you to keep us free! Well done, Soldier! Be thou at peace. ARMY STRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!