THE WALL OF FACES

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt, "Citizen in a Republic", April 23, 1910

Sergeant First Class Albert Kaiwi Akamu, Served with Company C, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

SSG Albert K. Akamu was an infantryman serving with C Company, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. On May 9, 1968, SSG Akamu was on a combat operation with his unit four miles south of My Tho in Kien Hoa Province, RVN. During the mission, an attempt was made with a fragmentation grenade to fell a tree to be used for a river crossing. Akamu was fatally injured after he was hit by fragments from the blast. He was posthumously promoted to Sergeant First Class. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

DEAR SERGEANT 1ST CLASS AKAMU,
THANK YOU FOR BEING A GRUNT - A TOUGH MOS.
REST IN PEACE.

Dear SFC Albert Kaiwi Akamu, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter