THE WALL OF FACES

Junior was one year ahead of me at Hargrave Military Academy. We were from the same town yet did not know each other until he came to HMA becuase I had been enrolled there continously since 1956. Junior was a good friend and classmate at HMA. I will never forget him. Nor will I forget all the laughs we had at the infirmary, where he served as cadet corp. medical officer. he was always ready with a smile and a nice word. I recall vividly when I read about his death in the Roanoke Times. I was devasted. I went to the HMA memorial in his honor with my new bride. there I met Candy for the first time, who as I remember was his girlfirend. Solemn time! Oh, to be so young and vibrant only to give up your life in a far away place. Junior you won't be forgotten by any of us who knew you!!!!!

"Junior" and I were both graduates of Hargrave Military Academy, Chatham, VA, Class of 1963. We were both officers our senior year, both serving on the Battalion Staff. Junior was the Medical Officer, which basically allowed him to spend a lot of time at the infirmary--with one of the pretty nurses. He had a great sense of humor, was a fun-loving guy, very easy going, and--like a lot of us--always looking to get into a little mischief to liven things up. Charlie Watson, another Class of '63 grad, was Junior's roommate in college. One day, a dead mule was found on campus at Hargrave. How it got there, no one seemed to know. (Reminiscent of the dead horse in "Animal House") The 1963 Guidon (Hargrave's yearbook) has a picture of Junior with his sabre in his hand. The caption under the picture reads, "Where's that MULE, Jeff?" Like many who died in 'Nam, he was so young and so far away from home. All of us who knew him, lost a good friend.

Donald was a classmate at Cave Spring High School in the class of 1963 in Roanoke, Virginia. He was a neighbor on Mud Lick Road and a friend throughout childhood and teen years. My brother Bill and I were also friends with Donald's sister Ellen. I just wanted to leave this note to document my visit to this site on 11/28/98.

Dick Alvarez