THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for you service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from Jon Beard is especially poignant. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

His remains were identified March 29, 1995
https://www.dpaa.mil/portals/85/Documents/VietnamAccounting/pmsea_acc_p_usmc_20190906.pdf

Sgt. Robert C. Norton I still have your MIA Bracelet, I am a older man and wish to hand it back to you. Until then, it will always be close to me.

DEAR SERGEANT BORTONS,
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A RIFLEMAN. SEMPER FI. YOU ARE STILL MIA. PLEASE COME HOME. SUNDAY WAS THE 42ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE FALL OF SAIGON. I AM SO SORRY. 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.

In the summer of 1991, I was at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC. I was a young man, still in high school. At the memorial, a table was set up with memorial bracelets along with sheets detailing each of the missing soldiers. I was there with a young woman that I was trying to impress and exclaimed excitedly when I saw a missing soldier from Michigan -- which is where I am from. The man who was organizing the effort looked down then looked up at me and said "That is my brother-in-law." I was immediately ashamed of making light of the effort to draw attention to the plight of issuing soldiers. I ended up donating to the effort and got the bracelet for SGT Robert C Borton Jr. Since I put the bracelet on that night, I have never once removed it. I can't count the number of times I have spoken with people about Vietnam and our missing soldiers, SGT Borton in particular. While I know his remains were theoretically returned to his family, his three companions have never been accounted for and questions remain regarding SGT Borton's fate. I am reminded of him and his sacrifice every day of my life.