THE WALL OF FACES

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Will always be remembered, thank you for your service.

Dear Lcpl Manuel Soares, Thank you for your service as a Combat Engineer. The 54th anniversary of the start of your tour is soon. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is Spring , and 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.

Manny and I went to ITR training at Camp Geiger together and flew over to Vietnam on the same flight. We were both stationed at the 3rd Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division in Quang Tri. Upon arriving there we were separated and I never saw him again. I learned of his passing months later and still think of him many times to this very day. I know he was engaged to a girl named Cindy Goncalves who lived in Fall River Mass. and owned a beauty salon there. I was to be his best man at his wedding when we returned home. He was full of life, wicked sense of humor, loved Cindy and will always be remembered. Semper Fi Manny. Until we meet again.

I served with L/Cpl Soares and was wounded by the same enemy 60 mm mortar shell which mortally wounded him. We were medivaced together to Quang Tri Marine base and I visited him before I was discharged from the forward hospital. I understand that he was subsequently transferred to a hospital ship upon which he died.

We were on the first day of an operation inside the DMZ, on a hill overlooking the Bien Hoa River, the border between then North and South Vietnam.