THE WALL OF FACES

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Dear Cpl Ronald Robertson, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Summer is ending. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance, and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

On the evening of June 30, 1969, after a day of patrolling an area four miles south of Mo Duc Air Field in Quang Ngai Province, RVN, B Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, moved into a night defensive position (NDP) where it planned to remain overnight. As the NDP was being organized, a hostile mine was detonated, killing one man and wounding five others. A medivac “dustoff” was requested, and as the UH-1H medivac helicopter was making the pick-up at 8:35 PM, its tail rotor struck PFC Robert J. Coleman, critically injuring him. Another urgent dust off was requested for Coleman. At 8:55, a second dustoff arrived on the scene. As the aircraft was hovering and personnel were carrying casualties to it, another mine was detonated, disabling the helicopter and causing it to crash. C Company now requested a third dustoff for a reported fifteen wounded and eight dead. Two more medivac aircraft were required to remove the casualties, the first of the two completed at 9:25 PM. The lost Bravo Company personnel in this incident included Coleman (by rotor strike) and PFC James W. Jones, SSG Michael E. Fowler, PFC John D. Morrissey, SP4 Glen E. Poteet, PFC Ronald E. Robertson, SP4 Jerome E. Tucker, and PFC Larry J. White from the mines. Several of the deceased were posthumously promoted, including Coleman, Jones, Morrissey, Robertson, and White, each of whom had their rank upgraded to Corporal. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and 1-20infantry.org]

Dear CPL Ronald Edward Robertson, 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

Ronald is buried at Robertson Family Cemetery, Nelson County,VA. BSM PH