THE WALL OF FACES

LCPL James L. Bosheers was a rifleman serving with K Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. At the beginning of May 1968, the 3/4 was participating in the defense of Khe Sanh Combat Base (KSCB), south of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Quang Tri Province, RVN. The battalion shared in the continuous improvement of defensive positions around the base, and each of its companies ran daily patrols and established nighttime listening posts and ambushes. The battalion was also tasked with the responsibility of patrolling the ridge between Hill 689 and Hill 552, located three miles west of the KSCB and one mile north of National Highway QL-9. The ridge was a dominant feature overlooking the base and had been occupied or patrolled by U.S. forces during the last month. On May 1st, Bosheers was one of five Marines at Hill 552 burning trash when an explosion occurred. The blast killed Bosheers and wounded the other four men. An investigation conducted in the wake of the incident concluded that a grenade had been discarded in the barrel used for incinerating the refuse. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Command Chronology (3d Bn 4th Marines), May 1968” at ttu.edu]

Thank you for your service to our country so long as go sir. Another life taken way too soon.

On the remembrance of your birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Forever 18.

Semper Fi, Marine.

Lance Corporal James Larry Bosheers, Served with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

DEAR LANCE CORPORAL BOSHEERS,
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A RIFLEMAN. SEMPER FI. 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.