THE WALL OF FACES

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...

Dear Sgt Donald Sizemore, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Winter will end soon. Time moves quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

SP4 James W. Gates was a machine gunner serving with 2nd Platoon, A Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. During August 1968, SP4 Gates’ Company was conducting a search and clear operation near the coast in northern Quang Tri Province, RVN. Around noon on August 20, 1968, the Company was lifted by helicopter near a village where one of their scout aircraft had been fired on by a hostile ground force. The Company got in line and began marching towards the village. They crossed a rice paddy and filed around a berm line when they walked into a North Vietnamese Army ambush. The attackers opened fire at the Americans at nearly point-blank range. Gates responded by laying down a deadly base of M60 machine gun fire as the others crawled back to the berm. His squad members yelled, “Get back Gates, come on!”, but Gates poured it on and was credited with saving the members of his squad, all of whom were able to safely retreat. After withdrawing across a wide ride paddy near a road, they began digging in, shoveling dirt to create fighting holes. A 9th Infantry armored unit unexpectedly appeared and formed up near A Company’s position. While both units were preparing defensive positions, a huge explosion suddenly occurred when a 175mm artillery round, possibly fired from a U.S. naval destroyer offshore, landed nearby. Metal fragment ripped through the American’s position, killing three and wounding several others. The dead included Gates and two armor crewmen, SFC Clarence Fulton and SP4 Donald R. Sizemore. Four of the injured required evacuation for treatment of their wounds. Sizemore was posthumously promoted to Sergeant. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Gregory Fischer (January 2019)]

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.

Dear SGT Donald Ray Sizemore, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter