THE WALL OF FACES

May those who served never be forgotten. Rest in peace SGT. Stevens, I salute your brave soul. My heart goes out to you and your family. Semper Fidelis!

This year, as every year for many, my wife finishes the wreaths she makes for every Memorial Day and our American flag is raised in remembrance, as we observe this somber national holiday. You and our loved ones whose names also are inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial are in our hearts. My family and I will never forget the cost of our freedoms, and the men and women who have and continue to step forward to keep America safe.
With respect, always.
Curt Carter

You will always be 25 yrs. old to my family. I plan to make your favorite
dessert this evening, my Mom's coffee cake. I remember how you would have a
couple of pieces for dessert then Mom would pack you up a couple more pieces
to take with you. Miss you my friend.........

Dear SGT Walter Bruce Stevens, sir.

This year, as every year, our American Flag looks majestic as it snaps to attention in the breeze, as if to return the salute of all those who have served and who are serving. Two Red, White, and Blue Memorial Day wreats, one to the left and one to the right, remain there during this very special Memorial Day holiday.

Remembering you, those you served with who didn't make it home from the Vietnam War, and all who died defending this country.

With respect, sir.

Curt Carter

On Memorial Day 1966 (May 29, 1966), 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, were conducting squad- and platoon-sized patrols, sweeping villages just south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Thua Thien Province, RVN. A platoon from Golf Company had just finished a couple days of patrolling near a village east of the Battalion temporary Command Post Headquarters located along Highway 1 just north of Hue. They radioed another Golf Company platoon relieving them of North Vietnamese Army activity in the area, referring to a fire mission they had called in that morning which resulted in several enemy killed. The other platoon rogered the intel and the relieved Marines moved on to Battalion CP. About the time they arrived, the Battalion net erupted with radio calls of contact. They could hear mortar and machine gun fire coming from the village. Evidently, a large group of NVA set up a giant, horseshoe-shaped ambush in and around the village. When the Marine platoon got in the middle of the kill zone, the NVA opened fire from three sides. The results were devastating. Twenty Marines and a Navy corpsman were killed. A reaction force sent to the scene found numerous NVA machine gun cartridges and different firing positions around the village, indicating a sizeable and strong force. After the ambush, the enemy slipped away undetected. The lost Marines included PFC David B. Brandon Jr., PFC Gordon M. Briggs, PFC James W. Briles, PFC Thomas W. Britton Jr., LCPL Robert A. Corkill, LCPL Richard E. Crowe, LCPL James R. Heath, LCPL Billy J. Holt, PFC David W. Johnston, SSGT James J. MacKenna, PFC RB Marchbanks Jr., LCPL Jerry L. Noland, PFC Ernest G. Paul, PFC Ronald Ralich, PVT Roy J. Richard, PFC Edward C. Sexton, SSGT Walter B. Stevens, PFC James H. Stewart Jr., LCPL Charles E. Walker, and CPL Kenneth W. Wickel; the lost Navyman was HM Aldon M. Asherman Jr. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Danny M. Francis (May 2019) at two1marines.blogspot.com]