THE WALL OF FACES

One of the nicest persons I ever knew while I was in the Marine Corps

I was the one who back up your belonging to be sent home to your family. I remember the day you was killed, I through God takes the very best home first. I remember you not only as a very nice person but also a very spiritual Marine. You were a great of example of how we should all lead our lives

Sgt Robert Gannon 3th platoon C, co Email: rgannon13277&gmail.com

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

On September 21, 1965, Third Platoon, C Company from 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, consisting of two officers, twenty-one enlisted Marines, and one U.S. Navy personnel, began a twenty-two-hour reconnaissance of an area five miles west of Binh Son in Quang Ngai Province, RVN. The patrol, call sign “Delicatessen,” was inserted by helicopter and divided into three teams. They made numerous sightings of Viet Cong (VC), literally seeing them everywhere, including in villages, rice paddies, trails, and even in trees. The recon teams reported some made little or no attempt to camouflage themselves and walked about in the open complacently. The S-2 intelligence chief attributed the abundance of enemy personnel to the presence of at least one VC battalion and possibly a regiment-sized force operating in the area. On September 22nd, a little after 3:00 PM, Delicatessen was marching in a staggered column toward their extraction site when the point element was hit by a burst of VC fire. Radioman LCPL Gary P. Bland was killed and two other Marines wounded. They reported hearing a bugle sound, then were raked by automatic weapons fire from a nearby village. The platoon returned fire immediately with all weapons on automatic. The rear guard reported VC approaching and snipers in trees. The snipers were killed, and several bursts of automatic fire forced the withdrawal of four VC attempting to envelop the rear. Marine UH-1E gunships came on station and engaged targets while artillery fire directed by a Marine forward observer embedded with the patrol inflicted damage on the enemy. Delicatessen was successfully extracted under fire with all its casualties. An after-action debriefing of the engagement reported seventeen VC killed by platoon rifle fire. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and Command Chronology, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, September 1965]

DEAR LANCE CORPORAL BLAND,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A FIELD RADIO OPERATOR. SEMPER FI. IT HAS BEEN FAR TOO LONG FOR ALL OF YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND YOUR SACRIFICE. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE.. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE. MANY OF US HAVE BEGUN OUR JOURNEY TO EASTER. AND YOU ARE ALL IN OUR PRAYERS.