THE WALL OF FACES

Roy, I may not have known you, but I know that you have made sacrifices and worked hard to fight for this country and your family. I want to thank you and all the other heroes who gave their life to make this country great. You were a HERO, and that is something we will always and forever remember.

thank you Roy for your sacrifice for this country. and thank you the his family and friends for sharing stories and keeping his memory alive.

Remember to save for them a place inside of you, and save one backward glance when you are leaving, for the places they can no longer go...

Roy and I met in flight school in 1970 and developed a friendship there. We were not deployed together when shipped to Viet Nam. I had several transfers during my tour, the last to the 173d during the Laos operation. On my first day with this new unit I ran into Roy. We talked for several hours that night. During that time Roy told me about getting married on leave and his wife having just had their little boy. Roy was so excited to meet his son. Roy had R&R scheduled so he would be home, in Hawaii, for his son's birth but his R&R was postponed because of the Laos offensive. The next day he was killed. I went through a lot of "stuff" while "in country," but the memory of Roy has affected me more than all the others. So, today, on memorial day, 51 years later, I wanted to say that I still think of him and hold him and his family in my heart. I am sure his son is as wonderful a person as Roy was. May you rest in peace my friend. Doug

Dear WO Roy Shinkawa, Thank you for your service as an Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot. Your 51st anniversary is soon, sad. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Happy Valentine’s Day. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.