THE WALL OF FACES

Dear PFC Charles Goodhue Boyer, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter

Behind every name carved on The Wall is a face. Behind that face is a young life that will never grow old.BRBROne has to look into Charlie's young face to understand the high price he paid for his service to our country. Few know that Charlie and his friend Dave joined the Marines under the buddy plan. They trained together, went to Vietnam together and died together. It's one of those tragic stories that cuts deep and leaves permanent scars on those that knew and loved them. BRBRThe two buddys weren't in country long before they were being sent as replacements to Khe Sahn. Khe Sahn had been under siege for a long period of time when their C123 made it's landing approach that March day. The plane was waved off because there was another small aircraft with no radio tying to land at the same time. Charlie's plane never made it back around to land. BRThe enemy shot it out of the sky. BRBRThere are conflicting reports of how many died in that crash, but most agree that it's close to fifty. Charlie and Dave were not buried in Montana. It appears that all the members of that flight to Khe Sahn that day are buried in a common plot in a national cemetery in St. Louis, MO. They served together and they died together. May their memories live on forever.

Chuck grew up in La Crosse, Wisconsin and moved to Billings the summer prior to his Junior year at Billings Senior High School. He would tell his friend all about water skiing on the Mississippi river.
He was a fairly good artist and could draw well in lead. Perhaps he might have been a good one.
He was always getting into adventures and I suppose the Corp was just one more exciting adventure. He should have gone to college, but his father wanted hem to go into the service first.
I would bet that he was a fine Marine because he never quit and always looked out for his buddies. I think he lived the Corp motto of Semper Fidelis, which is Latin for Always Faithful.

Semper Fi, buddie……..

"Sleep my son, your duty done…for freedom’s light has come. Sleep in the silent depths of the sea, or in your bed of hallowed sod, until you hear at dawn the low, clear reveille of God."

High school was so long ago. I visited you at the Wall along with all our other absent companions and brought your name home. You are in my heart and prayers...be not forgotten. Rest in peace Bro!

FOREVER REMEMBERED

"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them....
Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heros you left behind...."

Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell
KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces.

We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you, one of the gentle heros lost to the War in Vietnam:

Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul ... and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.

From your Nam-Band-Of-Brothers