THE WALL OF FACES

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Phu Bai Combat Base was a U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps installation south of Hue in Thua Thien Province, RVN. At approximately 1:45 AM on January 20, 1967, the base came under a Viet Cong mortar attack. During the 15-minute barrage, shells fell in several locations across the base. At least two rounds impacted in the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 62 (NMCB-62) cantonment area. One Navy Seabee was killed, EON3 Francis E. Camden Jr., after he was hit by metal fragments. Another fifteen were wounded, including BURCN Murlin E. Boon, who later died of his wounds. At least twenty-two other personnel from different units around the base were wounded. A Marine unit on perimeter duty reported observing the muzzle flashes from their position. At first light, a patrol from G Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, found four different firing positions with fresh mortar plate imprints and aiming stakes around the positions. Also found were several dud rounds. A counter-intelligence team attached to the patrol reportedly interrogated local villagers regarding the attack. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and Command Chronology, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division (Reinforced) January 1967]

I can't thank you enough for your courage and heroism. You're a very special person, and I can't tell you enough how grateful I am for your service and sacrifice. Even though I never met you, I know you were a good person with an even bigger heart.

DEAR CN BOON,
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A BURCN: BUILDER (CONCRETE) CONSTRUCTION. IT HAS BEEN FAR TOO LONG FOR ALL OF YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND YOUR SACRIFICE. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE. YOU ARE ALL IN OUR PRAYERS. IT WAS JUST EASTER - GOD'S BLESSINGS ON YOU.

We survived boot camp together. Rest in Peace my friend.