THE WALL OF FACES

War drew us from our homeland
In the sunlit springtime of our youth.
Those who did not come back alive remain
in perpetual springtime -- forever young --
And a part of them is with us always.

I never knew Lance Corporal Rufo San Nicolas in life but I have remembered him for 50 years. After the explosion that killed him I was one of the marines that pulled him out from under the burning F-4 . For what it was worth I removed my T-shirt and placed it over his face. A small shred of dignity was all I could give him. RIP

Dear Lcpl Rufo San Nicolas, Thank you for your service as an Aircraft Firefighting & Rescue Specialist. Your 71st birthday is soon, happy birthday. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Thanksgiving was just passed. Time moves quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

LCPL Rufo San Nicolas is buried at Guam Veteran's Cemetery in Piti, GU (Coffelt Database).

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine.

On September 2, 1970, a United States Marine Corps McDonnell Douglas F-4B Phantom II from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 (VMFA-115) was being refueled at the Tactical Fuel Distribution Squadron (TAFDS) Southern Fuel Pits at Da Nang Air Base, RVN, when it caught fire resulting in a AIM-7 Sparrow missile explosion. The blast killed one USMC and two USAF crash crew personnel. They included LCPL Rufo S. San Nicolas from Marine Air Base Squadron 11 (MABS–11) and SSGT Bobby L. Holzer, and A1C Robert P. Pape from the 366th Civil Engineer Squadron. Three other USMC firefighting crew members were injured. The incident resulted in a temporary shutdown of fuel operations at TAFDS Southern Pits. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and Command Chronology - Marine Air Base Squadron - 11 (MABS-11) at ttu.edu]