THE WALL OF FACES

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed...
We feel lucky to have seen it.

I met David, or Dave, as he was called, in grade school. His father was in the Air Force and stationed at Luke Air Force Base in the Phoenix area. We were pals and his family treated me as their own son. His father was transferred to Japan for three years, so we wrote the occasional letter. When they came back to the states, they got Luke AFB again. We picked up our friendship in high school. His dad retired from the AF and couldn't find a decent job, so he got on with the border patrol and moved to El Centro Ca. We would ride a bus back and forth in the summertime and had many adventures. He wanted to get into the AF for 30 years and tried hard. The AF wasn't taking many people in 66, so he joined the Army thinking he would just transfer over later. Sadly, that never came to be. I went to VN shortly after he was killed. Took a trip to Ca. to see his parents and brothers. Met his wife and the child he never got to see. It broke my heart. His mother made me promise to come and see them when i got home. I couldn't face them. I was eaten up with survivors guilt, and just couldn't do it. I still am!. God bless you my friend Rest in peace!!

Dear PFC William Ray, Thank you for your service as a Ballistic Missile Repair Apprentice. 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.

David lived about 6 houses away from us on Aurora.David and I were in the class of 66 together. I remember him as a class guy, always friendly. David's passing was a real shock to me and brought the reality and horror of war right in my face. We of the class of 66 grew up fast with these and other deaths came up.
I went to the "Wall" in DC about 89'. When I saw David's name and other friends I cried for a solid hour.
Let us NEVER forget the sacrifice of these men and women.