THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrances from your sister Jody are moving and reflect her eternal love for you. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

Dear Lcpl Gary Ream, Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. Your 75th birthday just passed, happy birthday. 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.

On the morning of November 3, 1966, a squad-sized element from C Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines was conducting a search and destroy patrol three miles northwest of Hoi An in Quang Nam Province, RVN. At approximately 7:20 AM, the patrol received heavy small arms fire from an estimated three Viet Cong, wounding two Marines, PFC William Carpenter Jr. and LCPL Gary L. Ream. The Viet Cong fled, and the patrol was unable to regain contact. Medivac aircraft were requested, and the two wounded were evacuated thirty minutes later. Carpenter died during the medivac flight, succumbing to a gunshot wound of the left upper chest; Ream, also wounded in the upper chest, was flown to Charlie Med (3rd Medical Battalion) at Da Nang where he expired at 8:30 AM. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and ttu.edu]

Gary, my mother's cousin, thank you for your service and for your sacrifice.

Semper Fi, Marine.