THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Specialist 5 Smith ~ You Are Not Forgotten!
Yesterday, March 30, 2022, on the anniversary of your passing, I ran a mile with you in my thoughts and prayers. Rest in Peace, dear brother.

Each year since September 2015, at the annual 5th Division Army reunion, members of the Society of the Fifth Division, U.S Army remember the 514 soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 5th Division, who were Killed in Action in Vietnam. You are among the soldiers remembered. You Are Not Forgotten!

Phil “LT Mike” Maniscalco
Society of the 5th Division, U.S. Army
Delta Company 1/11 Infantry
Vietnam Sept 1968- Sept 1969

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

Landing Zone Sharon was located south of Quang Tri City in Quang Tri Province, RVN, and was the base camp for 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized). On March 30, 1969, a road mine sweep was conducted from Sharon which including two “flame tracks,” flamethrower armed variants of the M113 armored personnel carrier from Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC), 1/61, providing security for the engineers clearing the roads. After proceeding a short distance, one of the flame tracks was hit by a command detonated mine near the village of Nhu Le. The blast knocked a line from its fitting to one of the 150-gallon high-pressured compressed air tanks used to expel the liquid fuel. The broken line from the pressure unit swung wildly, striking SP5 Walter D. Smith who was manning the track commander's cupola position. Smith suffered fatal injuries in the incident. The track driver was seriously injured but survived. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Ted Nordin (February 2021); Image: photo by Jim Roffers from LZ Sharon shortly after the mine explosion occurred.]

I believe you were with my beloved cousin on 3/30/69.I am sorry for your family and community It will be 50 years soon and we will be with you soon.In those 50 years Joe's character helped me
Be a better man.I will not stand before God as heroic as you and Joe.You have been are presently are and will be in the future in my thoughts I wish we could have changed your and Joe's fate but you see so much better than I it's not how long u live but how good and courageous

Dear SP5 Walter Daniel Smith, 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