THE WALL OF FACES

War drew us from our homeland
In the sunlit springtime of our youth.
Those who did not come back alive remain
in perpetual springtime -- forever young --
And a part of them is with us always.

Operation Kings (March 20–28, 1966) was a 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, and 3rd Tank Battalion search and destroy operation in Quang Nam Province, RVN. The Marines' objective was to eliminate the Viet Cong (VC) power base in the area south of Da Nang. The heaviest action of the operation occurred during the early morning of March 25th. Company E, 9th Marines had established defensive positions for the night two miles west of railroad tracks and 1,000 yards north of National Route QL-4. At 12:30 AM, Marines at a listening post heard a small force of VC, using water buffalo as a screen, attempting to infiltrate the company's perimeter. In an exchange of small arms fire, the Marines killed two VC. Another listening post reported enemy movement to its front at about the same time, and a Marine threw a grenade at the suspected VC. One-half hour later, a 75-round mortar barrage hit the company position. The VC followed the mortar attack with a two-company assault. Simultaneously, other enemy units placed a heavy volume of small arms fire on night positions of Company M, 9th Marines to the southwest, preventing these Marines from coming to Company E's assistance. Company E sustained repeated VC ground attacks for the next hour. With the help of 1,000 105mm rounds of supporting fire from the 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines, the Company repulsed the VC with heavy losses. Although the enemy attack ended shortly after 2:00 AM, Marine artillery continued to fire interdiction missions, and a Marine flare plane illuminated the battlefield until 5:00 AM. Company E suffered seven killed and seventeen wounded. The lost personnel included LCPL William E. Copeland II, SGT Richard A. Eckvall, CPL Michael D. Laux, LCPL Gerald A. LeTendre, PFC Thomas K. King, PFC Clyde D. McDonald II, and PFC Samuel M. Ramirez. The Marines reportedly killed at least forty of the enemy. They identified the attacking enemy unit as the R-20 or Doc Lap Battalion, which had been harassing Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) outposts on QL-4 since mid-February 1966. [Taken from virtualwall.org and “U.S. Marines in Vietnam: An Expanding War 1966” by Jack Shulimson]

Dear Samuel Ramirez, Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Independence Day just passed. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

We were neighbors and played baseball. When it snowed we had snowball
fights. God called on you at a very early age because you had completed your
task on earth. Your father and you will open the gates of heaven for the rest of
your family when God calls for them. Semper fi.

Sammy, your loss has taken me many years to get over the realization that you never returned to the many things we planned in our lives. I feel I was left behind. Yes, I went on with my life, many heartaches and always with that spark of your memory. Your smile which could draw people across the room. You paid the ultimate price for our country, the day you lost your life for our freedom, you saved the lives of the men in your unit, you died a hero! Rest In Peace!