THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.

'Doc' Bouton was assigned to H&S Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Marines, 1st MarDiv, III MAF

DEAR PETTY OFFICER BOUTON,
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A HOSPITAL CORPSMAN 3RD CLASS WITH THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION. SEMPER FI, THANKS FOR THE LIVES YOU SAVED. SUNDAY IS MOTHER'S DAY. 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.

Thank you for your devotion to our Country and to your Marines.

Jeffrey, you were assigned to be our Corpsman of 1st Platoon India Company and I was the Lieutenant platoon leader. I only remember talking with you briefly one day after we had dug-in for the night. I was only 23 years old myself but you seemed so young and innocent. Operation Union, 21 April 1967 was your first real test with 1st Platoon. I will never forget that day as the whole company began an assault just before last daylight. You, Cpl Dave Kamp our radioman and I were moving forward when Pfc Miller was hit in the chest. You immediately started working on him as Kamp and I moved forward with the rest of the platoon. Within twenty yards, a grenade exploded beside Kamp and I. A piece of shrapnel hit Kamp in the neck and my flac jacket saved me. You were still working on Miller, so I stopped the bleeding with my battle-dressing on Kamp's neck and we continued forward. That was the last time I saw you alive Jeffrey. The next morning.....you and six others of our platoon were KIA. When I got home in '68, I wrote to your parents. They eventually moved up to Greenwell Springs, LA. Besides Operation Union, April is also my birth month and I turn 71. It seems like only about five years have passed since Union and before I know it.....I'll be seeing you and the rest of our platoon.
God Bless, Lt. Richard C. Anderson USMC