THE WALL OF FACES

Dear PVT Richard Skinner, Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Winter will end soon, and Lent has begun. Time moves quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

At about 1100 hours on August 10, 1966, during Operation Colorado, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, made contact with elements of two NVA battalions in the vicinity of Cam Khe hamlets (1) and (2) on Route 586, 5 miles west of Tam Ky in Quang Tin Province, RVN. The initial contact developed into a full-fledged battle fought in a driving rainstorm which did not clear until about 1730 hours. Although Marine Observation Squadron 6 (VMO-6) provided armed helicopter gunship support, and both shore-based artillery and naval gunfire supported the Marines, fixed-wing aircraft were unable to operate in the area until the rainstorm broke. The 1/5 Marines suffered 14 men killed in action with another 65 wounded, but killed more than 100 NVA troops before the battle ended on the morning of August 11th. Three Navy corpsmen were among the dead, including HN Lawrence T. Steiner, HM3 James T. Elrod, and HM3 Walter P. Jackson. SSGT Robert T. Walsh, a gunner on a medevac helicopter from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 (HMH-361), was also killed after suffering gunshot wounds to the chest during a medical evacuation. The lost 1/5 Marines included SGT Ernest B. Amador, LCPL Richard P. Donathan, PFC David L. Faught, CPL Douglas B. Haddix, LCPL Robert D. Higbee, LCPL Gregory M. Howard, PFC Lawrence J. Kindred, PFC Melvin Rolle, PVT Richard A. Skinner, SGT John D. Smith, PFC Paul E. Sudsbury, PFC Kenneth E. Tasker, PFC Everette A. Thompson, and LCPL Richard W. Williamson. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and thevirtualwall.org]

hi skinner,
tried to leave this on the 10th but it won't go through ..just wanted you to know I was thinking about you still remember all the card games on hill 54 and back in NC when we were in m co 3/8 hard to believe it has been 48 years now...sya hi to guys.
pvt barberr

well it's another year and not much has changed except the president is a real nut case ,,,you would not like seeing what is going on in the country ...I really feel sorry for the men and women laying their lives on the line for this jerk. Anyway I think about you all the time hope the beer is cold up there ...tell Chesty Pvt Barber says hello!

Semper Fi,
Pvt Barber