THE WALL OF FACES

On May 16, 1971, a New York Times article described heroin use by American troops in Vietnam had reached epidemic proportions. The piece reported that 10 to 15 percent of lower-ranking enlisted men were heroin users, and military officials working in drug‐suppression estimated that as much as a quarter of all enlisted personnel, more than 60,000 men, were hooked. They added that some field surveys reported units with more than 50 percent of the men on heroin. In Vietnam, the drug was plentiful, cheap, and 95 percent pure. Its effects could casually be achieved through smoking or snorting, as compared to the U.S., where the drug was impure, only about five percent heroin, and had to be main-lined or injected into the bloodstream to achieve a comparable high. The habit, which cost $100 a day to maintain in the U.S., cost less than $5 a day in Vietnam. SP4 Andres L. Ramon was a Food Service Specialist assigned to B Company, 554th Engineer Battalion, 35th Engineer Group, 18th Engineer Brigade, U.S. Army, Republic of Vietnam Engineer Command, U.S. Army Republic of Vietnam. In late 1970, the 554th Engineer Battalion left Lai Khe and moved up National Route QL-20 into the southern highlands. Most of the 554th was based at Camp Smith at Bao Loc, while some elements of the 554th were based at Camp Fennell beyond Bao Loc in Phuoc Long Province, RVN. The battalion maintained QL-20 from Camp Brown to the Camp Fennell area. At 7:00 PM on February 4, 1971, Ramon was found by fellow soldiers in his bunk at Camp Fennel with no visible life signs. Medics were summoned to the scene who pronounced him dead. A subsequent autopsy found Ramon had died of respiratory failure and other assorted conditions consistent with opioid (heroin) overdose. He was twenty-one years old. His body was forwarded to the U.S. Army Mortuary at Tan Son Nhut Air Base and turned over to Graves Registration personnel. After processing, it was transported to the U.S. and returned to his family in Texas. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, wikiwand.com, and “G.I. Heroin Addiction Epidemic in Vietnam.” New York Times (New York, NY), May 16, 1971]

Dear Sp4 Andres Ramon, Thank you for your service as a Food Service Specialist. 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.

Andres Lopez Ramon is buried at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Del Rio, Val Verde County, Texas. Ref. Coffelt Database.

Remembering my uncle "Nay" today, very proud of your ultimate sacrifice for our country. My mom had many wonderful memories of you that she shared with us.

Dear SP4 Andres Lopez Ramon, 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