THE WALL OF FACES

I just this week found out about the Virtual Wall and in looking up members of my
platoon I was saddened by the fact that I could find no remembrances of the four young marines who lost their lives some 30 years ago in Vietnam. I was a Platoon Commander of Lima 3/4 3rd Marine Division from December 1968 to April 1969. Don Rudd was a Corpsman in our Company and I spent more than a few nights talking with Don while we took turns on the radio sending/receiving "sitreps". I was with Don on Mutters Ridge when he died. I know what he did and on those few occasions when I have been able to talk to someone about it I have always remembered Corpsman Rudd. .
Robert W Howe ( 1st LT. USMC)
[email protected] SemperFi

I am Don's cousin from Pittsburgh,Pa. I served in Vietnam the same time Don did, from about 12/68 to 11/69. I served with the 2nd Bn,3rd Marines,3rd Marine Division stationed in Quang Tri. When I was notified of Don's death I immediately secured permission to visit his unit based near Quang Tri. I got to talk to a G-2 person who personnaly knew Don and he filled me in on all the details of his death. I even got to view his remains (in a body bag)at "the ice house". Growing-up, I never really got to know my cousin Don, because we grew up so far apart. I may not have known Don as well as I know members of my immediate family but in my heart and mind he'll always be a special person who helped me be who I am today. I was very proud when I learned that many years after his death he was given the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism and a Navy Medical Complex in Hawaii was named after him. I'll see you in Vahalla Don ! Maybe there I'll get to know you better!!!