THE WALL OF FACES

My name is David Hayes, I was the Platoon Sgt of 2nd
Platoon from mid 68 to the end of 69. I remember Jack, he was a very
Good Marine, if I need something done he would be one of the first to volunteer. I could always depend on him. A Dam good Marine.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from Ken Judd is especially poignant. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

On November 17, 1968, a squad from the 2nd Platoon, D Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 1st Marine Division, was overrun by the enemy at their ambush site near the Song Cu De River, six miles northwest of Da Nang in Quang Nam Province, RVN. The enemy was the point element of an North Vietnamese Army company moving towards Da Nang. No communications with the squad was received during or after the firing was heard. Another Marine unit moved into the area and found six of the squad members dead and one seriously wounded, who related that his unit was hit and overrun without warning. He did not know which direction the enemy came from, or where they went after the attack. Shortly after relating this information, the Marine died. The seven squad members killed in the engagement were PFC Jack A. Bowman, PFC Timothy A. Crandall, PFC Ryan J. Gallow, PFC Robert E. Greene, PFC Thomas J. Killion Jr., PFC Martin D. Shields, and LCPL David Vollmer. Six of the Marines suffered close-range gunshot wounds to the head, suggesting the enemy delivered execution-style fatal shots to some of the wounded. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and Command Chronology, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, November 1968]

DEAR PFC BOWMAN,
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE AS AN ANTITANK ASSAULTMAN. SEMPER FI. MONDAY WAS THE 42ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE MAYAQUEZ INCIDENT - THE LAST BIG BATTLE OF THE WAR (BIG SIGH.) MEMORIAL DAY IS APPROACHING, BUT ALL DAYS WE SHOULD HONOR YOU. 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.

I recall the days of summer, baseball, hanging out at Harwood school. We were carefree and happy. Semper Fi, old friend.