THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from fellow soldier Michael McClenagan is touching and reflects his admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

Operation Paul Bunyan (July 19 – September 11, 1967) was a U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division land clearing operation. Phase I was conducted in the Ong Dong jungle near Di An Base Camp, and Phase II was along National Highway QL-13 (“Thunder Road”) between Phu Cuong and Ben Cat. When it concluded, elements of B Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry headed back to their base camp at Lai Khe. On September 14th, during the road march back to base, the B Company command track, an M113 armored personnel carrier (APC #206), hit a large mine near intersection of routes TL-2A and LTL-1A, seven miles east of Lai Khe. The blast killed or injured all passengers on the APC and destroyed the track. The B Company medic track moved up to treat the casualties and was quickly joined by other B Company medics. The lost personnel included the B Company Commander, CPT Joseph S. Rose Jr., PSGT Thomas E. Murray, SP4 David C. Stanley, and PFC David L. Howard. Following the evacuation of the casualties, the wrecked APC was towed back to Lai Khe Base Camp. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and pbase.com; Image: the destroyed APC at Lai Khe (from pbase.com)]

Dear Sp4 David Stanley, Thank you for your service as an Indirect Fire Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Yesterday was the 47th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Specialist Four David Carl Stanley, Served with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.

I would have been great to know you and I wish I did. I wish my dad had gotten a chance to know his father. My grand mom, Sue, always tells me how much I look like you. Rest easy, pop pop.