THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever....

Although I never met you, you are my Great Uncle, my Grandpa is your brother James. He always told stories of you growing up. Grandpa passed in March of 2013, hopefully you both get to catch up. Love you both.

Today, through the amazing power of the internet, I found out who you were. For 50 years, I had only known that a grunt from the 5/7 had been KIA only feet away from me in our FDC bunker. RIP, John.

FSB Joe (Minh Thanh Airfield) was located 15 miles southwest of An Loc in Binh Long Province, RVN. On May 6, 1969, Joe was being defended by Companies C and E, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry. At approximately 3:20 AM, the base received an estimated 125-150 mixed 60mm and 82mm mortar rounds followed by a ground probe from an unknown-size North Vietnamese Army force. The enemy broke contact at 4:30 AM and evaded. Two rifle companies were airlifted to Joe in an attempt to reestablish contact after the enemy’s withdrawal. A first-light search of the battlefield produced eight dead NVA soldiers and a variety of captured equipment. Four Americans were killed in the attack. They included PFC Tyson V. Beall, SP4 James A. Blain, SP4 John O. Bowman, and SGT Richard M. Luckenbach Jr. Beall was posthumously promoted to Corporal and Bowman to Sergeant. Another 25 Americans were wounded. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

DEAR SERGEANT JON BOWMAN,
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE AS AN INFANTRYMAN WITH THE 1ST CAVALRY. MIKE WAS 1ST CAV, SAY HI TO HIM. TODAY IS ARMED FORCES DAY. MEMORIAL DAY IS APPROACHING, BUT ON 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.