THE WALL OF FACES

My dearest brother, I am a Blake and my family was originally from Cameron, West Virginia. We will never forget the ultimate sacrifice you paid for our country. Rest in Heaven my brother, we will take it from here. U.S. Army, 95 Bravo, military police here.

Scott A. Blake
Louisville, Ohio

I spent time at Purdue University with Tim and my future husband’s brother, Jon Walton. We had a 4:30 class three days a week in the same building so mid afternoon we’d meet at the Student Union and drink cokes together before our classes. Tim was always a happy, soft spoken, polite Southerner. We laughed a lot together and enjoyed being together.

Tim went right into the Army after graduation. He came back to Indiana to be in my wedding to Tom Walton. He was learning to fly a helicopter.

We continued to write letters and postcards to each other. Phone calls were too expensive! Then the letter came saying he was shipping out for Vietnam.

The next postcard we got said he had been shot down in a rice field, but added he survived-nothing for us to worry about. Oh dear, I was worried!

Next, I sent him the birth announcement that Anne Louise was born and he was an “uncle”! Anne was born October 19 and Tim’s father called telling us he had died in Vietnam. Anne was so small and Tom was in school so we were unable to go to Tim’s funeral.

At the end of that year, 1965, a beautiful silver bowl arrived with Anne’s name and birthday- and Uncle Tim. Tim’s parents got his personal items and saw the letter in them telling them about Anne’s birth and thT he was an uncle.

I will soon be 80 years old. There has never been a day in my life that I have not thought about my beautiful friend Tim. He was taken too soon from us, but he will always be in our hearts.

I never knew Tim Blake. I saw him alive once momentarily 2-3 minutes prior to him and 3 others near him being killed by fierce enemy fire. I noted him particularly due to his slight build and was shocked to learn later that he had died in a devastating volley of enemy small arms fire. I was told he passed away immediately after being hit. I learned he was from WVA and I was from Pittsburgh, 30 minutes away. Thus, I never forgot seeing him. EVERY fellow Artillery Forward Observer assigned to my unit informed me Tim was probably the best in their Artillery Batallion. Tim, I will see you on the other side. I'm sorry you never were to realize your youthful hopes and dreams. Garryowen, Sir!!

Second Lieutenant Timothy Morgan Blake, Served with Battery C, 1st Battalion, 21st Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, United States Army Vietnam. Montani Semper Liberi !

My grandfather was good friends with Timothy Morgan Blake and attended Purdue University with him. He is still remembered and honored today through my dad and me. My dad’s name is Timothy and my name is Morgan (both in honor to him). I hope to have a child in the future and name him Blake.