THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Lt John Slater, Thank you for your service as a Basic Infantry Officer. 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.

John and I were enlisted Marines together at Camp Pendleton. We met in ITR and formed a fast friendship. We both were selected to the Enlisted Commissioning Program...to go to OCS. Before we shipped out (John went to OCS ahead of me), we talked about being in Force Recon. We were able to get orders to Recon Replacement School at Camp Horno (Camp Pendleton) and got the basic Recon Marine secondary MOS before shipping out to OCS. The next time I heard about John was when I arrived at Ah Hoa combat base in Vietnam on my way to my assigned unit, 1st Force Reconnaissance Company. When I got there, I was putting my gear away when I heard that a Lt. Slater had been killed a few days before. I immediately found his Platoon Sergeant to find out what happened. John was killed in contact with a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force...well into their territory and in the midst of an emergency extraction under heavy fire. John was full of life...a physical and mental powerhouse. He was a fine officer...leading by example from the front. He died courageously as a warrior...a great loss. Semper Fidelis, dear Brother.

Semper Fi, Lt.

Dear 2LT John Edward Slater, 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

John is buried at Grundy Center Cemetery in Grundy Center, IA. PH