THE WALL OF FACES

War drew us from our homeland
In the sunlit springtime of our youth.
Those who did not come back alive remain
in perpetual springtime -- forever young --
And a part of them is with us always.

Dear Cpl James Smith, Thank you for your service as a Supply Administrative Man. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Spring has begun, and it's Lent. Time moves quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

You were the cute boy, the one who smiled and just had that charm about you. I remember being 16 and sitting on the steps at Beacon Avenue School, talking, sneaking a few kisses.
I remember the evening several years later when someone said “Smitty died.” Smitty who, I asked. Jimmy, they said. My heart sank.
All these years later, I still think if you from time to time and wonder what the cute, charming boy would gave become in life if he had lived.
RIP

Jim, I read Jim Cuddy’s ode To you and wanted to write one of my own. You would be 70 now. Jim is right we had our 50th reunion and I sat with a lot of the basketball team that you were involved with. Your name came up along with Tony Sivo as friends who died in Vietnam that we missed. I remember you, me, Richie Lopes and Jimmy Wilkenson and Vas all hanging around. I wasn’t from south Providence like you guys but close enough. It’s a shame that you and some of my best friends bravely gave their lives and are no longer with us. You are with us in memory though and I wanted you to know that.

CPL James E. Smith was a Supply Administrative Man serving with Wing Equipment and Repair Squadron 17 (WERS-17), Marine Wing Support Group 17 (MWSG-17), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), III Marine Amphibious Force (III MAF). On May 27, 1967, CPL Smith died at Da Nang Air Base in Quang Nam Province, RVN, after suffering a wound to his left chest when a Marine accidentally discharged his rifle. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]