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.

Dear Sgt William Reed, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. The 51st anniversary of the start of your tour is this month. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Yesterday was the 57th anniversary of Gulf of Tonkin Incident. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

We met David Mendoza's family today. They are such a great group of people. The way they describe their brother makes me understand why you were friends. We will get to be with the men of your platoon today and tomorrow. I am forever thankful that you were in their platoon and had such good men with you in that terrible war.

June,18th 1971 is a date that I have always remebered. Billy and I were not real close friends, however, he was friends to every one of us in the platoon. I remember him always with a smile on his face. He was one of those people who was always full of life, always cutting up when we were in the rear and always serious when we were in the bush. I used to pick at him singing "the okie from Muscogee." I still have a picture of Bill riding a baby water buffalo. A good man and a great lost to all of us.

June l8, l971 will always be remembered as a a tragic day for your family & friends. We received the terrible news on the morning of June l9, l971 (which was the 5th Anniversary of our wedding where you were "best man". I reconnected with our cousin, Bobby Kerr, who was in Marines in Vietnam the same time you were there. He told me that while you were going to college at OU that you worked with the man that is responsible for the Doppler Radar that is used at the National Weather Center to help save lives. I wish you could have been here to finish the work you started before you were drafted out of college at OU. I am so proud of this accomplishment and have always been proud that you were my brother. I will never forget you.