THE WALL OF FACES

On the remembrance of your 70th birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

Sergeant Douglas Ray Roest, Served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, United States Army Vietnam.

On behalf of all the paratroopers who served with you in the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) and all who followed, we offer our respect and remembrance of your ultimate sacrifice. May you never be forgotten and your family and friends take comfort in your valor in serving.

Today, I'm thinking of Sgt. Douglas R Roest, Sgt. Alan Rutimann, and Cpl. Thomas J. Urquhart. I didn't remember their names, I never met them, but I did get to know them, and I remembered the name of the accused, Sgt. David W. Goings. I was the court reporter at his trial. When the trial recessed mid-way in order to try to get witnesses who had rotated out of country back to testify, I typed the testimony thus far, over 800 pages. The acquittal followed shortly after the resumption of the trial, and the transcript was destroyed. Sgt. Goings died in 2010. He was 62. Sgt. Roest made the ultimate sacrifice.

Took a trip from Memphis to D.C. for Rolling ThunderXXX. Visited the Wall and paid a visit to you. Didn't have a chance to meet you, but you are part of my faintly.