THE WALL OF FACES

I was a heavy construction mechanic in MCB4 Co. A with Martin. I remember the day that Martin & Ron died. I always blamed the Roadmaster on the bridge for allowing Ron to drive onto the bridge instead of fording the river. Unfortunately Martin was the poor victum to this accident. I remember Martin as a very nice guy.
Rest In Peace Martin!
H. Bond CM2

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

CMACN Martin G. Blakely and EON3 Ronald E. Harrison were Navy Seabees serving with A Company, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 (NMCB-4), 3rd Naval Construction Brigade, U.S. Naval Forces, Vietnam. On May 20, 1968, Harrison was driving and Blakely riding “shotgun” in a tractor truck pulling a trailer carrying material supplies that had just been unloaded from Navy LCUs coming in from the coast on the Perfume River. As they pulled the load over the old French-built An Lo Bridge, the weight of the right rear duals (tires) broke the wooden outboard stringers of the bridge causing the tractor and trailer to be pulled backwards over the side of the bridge. The rig plunged 22 feet, landing upside down in the So Bo River. Both Seabees were killed in the incident. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and the book “U.S. Navy Seabees-The Vietnam Years-1968”]

Constructionman Martin George Blakely, Served with Company A, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 (NMCB-4), 3rd Naval Construction Brigade, United States Naval Forces Vietnam (USNAVFORV).

Martin,
I had crossed the river below your truck, just before the accident. What a tragic loss for all of us that day. Martin I aways enjoyed our talks about the Bay Area and being in your company. You were a good man & great Seabee. You remain in my prayers.
RIP
Howard Bond
CM3
MCB 4 "A" ompany