THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Sgt Donnie Russell, Thank you for your service as an Antitank Assaultman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Today we honor all in heaven, we honor you. Time moves quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

For the last decade, upon my wrist I wear a bracelet with your name, rank and dod. Every morning I awake and as I put on my bracelet I say good morning out loud and speak your name, and thank you for your sacrifice. You died a couple hours before I was born, your sacrifice allowed me to be born free. My bracelet will be passed down to generations. As long as I have family alive, you will never ever be forgotten. Thank you Sgt Russell; I can't wait to meet you in heaven.

For the last decade, upon my wrist I wear a bracelet with your name, rank and dod. Every morning I awake and as I put on my bracelet I say good morning out loud and speak your name, and thank you for your sacrifice. You died a couple hours before I was born, your sacrifice allowed me to be born free. My bracelet will be passed down to generations. As long as I have family alive, you will never ever be forgotten. Thank you Sgt Russell; I can't wait to meet you in heaven.

For the last decade, upon my wrist I wear a bracelet with your name, rank and dod. Every morning I awake and as I put on my bracelet I say good morning out loud and speak your name, and thank you for your sacrifice. You died a couple hours before I was born, your sacrifice allowed me to be born free. My bracelet will be passed down to generations. As long as I have family alive, you will never ever be forgotten. Thank you Sgt Russell; I can't wait to meet you in heaven.

At approximately 9:45 AM on July 3, 1970, a U.S. Navy 1000-gallon water truck from Naval Construction Mobile Battalion 62 (NMCB-62) was traveling south on Route 1D, one mile south of Nui Dat Son (Hill 55) in Quang Nam Province, RVN, when it detonated a 40lb. box mine, wounding two Naval personnel who were in the cab of the vehicle. They were medevacked by vehicle to Hill 55 and subsequently medivacked by helicopter to 1st Medical in Da Nang. Witnesses stated civilians were seen fleeing approximately 500 yards from the road indicating that the mine may have been command-detonated. About 25 minutes later, a M151 jeep from M Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines arrived on the scene where it detonated a similar-type mine. The blast destroyed the jeep and killed its two occupants, CPL William D. Frakes and SGT Donnie H. Russell. The explosion also killed a Seabee, BU2 Nelson M. Hyler, who was at the scene of the tanker truck ambush. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]