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.

Dear Sp4 Alton Sebastian, Thank you for your service as a Combat Engineer. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Happy New Year. Time moves quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Alton Sebastian was my father’s friend. I heard stories about how funny he was. It is sad that he and so many other young men never came back. Thank you to all who have served. - Todd Alton Simonds, born 4/24/68.

SP4 Alton B. Sebastian was a Combat Engineer serving with C Company, 19th Engineer Battalion. On February 5, 1968, SP4 Sebastion was in charge of a detail of four AIK’s, South Vietnamese laborers paid with Assistance In Kind (AIK) funds. They were working on a culvert project on Highway QL-1, two miles northeast of Tam Quan in Binh Dinh Province, RVN. While the work was being conducted, two Viet Cong armed with a rifle and a .45 caliber pistol came west from the hills and approached the work site where they ambushed Sebastian. He was killed after being shot twice with the pistol at close range in the body and head. Sebastian’s M14 rifle and PRC25 radio were taken by the assailants. The AIK’s were held and taken for interrogation. A combat sweep of the area was conducted by 1/50th Battalion (Mechanized). It was reported that about a year later a Viet Cong soldier was killed in the area at which time Sebastian’s rifle was recovered and returned to his company. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by John Boyle (March 2011) at vvmf.org]

Today, 48 years ago, you gave your life fighting in Vietnam. God bless you and may you rest in peace. More importantly, thank you for serving in our military.