THE WALL OF FACES

Sonny it has been 56 years 7 months since you left us. You are still 21 and I am now 77 year old man. I still think of you often and the good times we had in East Highlands working smudging the orange groves when in High School. I will see you soon and we will reminisce about old times.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Dear Cpl Darwin Ray, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman with the 1st Cavalry. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. The 57th anniversary of Gulf of Tonkin Incident is soon. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Landing Zone Leslie (also known as Firebase Leslie or Hill 138) was a U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base located in the Que Son Valley southwest of Hoi An in Quang Nam Province in central Vietnam. The base was located along Route 534, approximately twenty miles northwest of Tam Ky. On the early morning of January 3, 1968, the North Vietnamese Army’s 3rd Regiment, 2nd Division attacked four U.S. firebases in the Que Son Valley, launching ground attacks against Leslie and Firebase Ross. At Leslie the NVA penetrated the base, attacking bunkers with flamethrowers and satchel charges before being pushed out in the afternoon. Losses were 15 U.S. killed. The lost Americans included (from 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry) SGT Charles T. Cooke, CPL Arnold L. Coonrod, PFC Dennis D. Dautremont, SSG Billy J. Ellis (MIA), SGT Ronald D. Goulet, SSG Juan A. Guzman, PFC Robert R. Lindbergh, SSG Rodney A. Price, CPL Darwin E. Ray, SGT Jesse E. Rodriguez, SGT Jerry L. Smith, and CPL Melford W. West; (from B Battery 1/21 Artillery) MSG Edward K. Robison and SGT Morgan E. Stewart; (from 11th Pathfinder Company) SGT John M. Brimm; and (from G Battery, 29th Artillery) CPL Clarence Robinson. SP4 Ellis was on radio watch when the landing zone came under heavy mortar and small arms attack. Other members of Ellis' unit stated that he had been hit in the initial barrage as they went to seek cover. While in a protected position, these individuals saw an ammunition bunker explode. After the engagement, no trace of Ellis could be found. From witness statements, it was assumed that Ellis had probably crawled into the ammunition bunker that exploded. Sixty-three NVA were reportedly killed. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, pownetwork.org, and wikipedia.org]

My dad spoke highly of you and for the longest time he would only say you died in Vietnam. I always had a deep interest in what happened. I researched all i could. I learned when and what unit you were in. I let my dad know all i learned. You are always in my thoughts.