THE WALL OF FACES

Dear CPL Paul Thorik Jr, 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.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

Paul is buried at Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Cemetery, New Britain, Hartford County,CT.

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 heroes 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 heroes 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

I chose your name from the CT map painted in our school which lists the soldiers from our state that lost their lives in vietnam. As part of the Cpt. Nathan Hale Middle Schoolposting project, I would like to honor the sacrifice you made for our country. Thank you for your contribution to the bettering of the world.

Dear Paul,
Hello, I’m Stephanie Hall and I am from Gridley Illinois. My World History class has a posting project to remember the men and women who died in the Vietnam War. I would just like to thank you for fighting for this wonderful country. I am very appreciative that you fought so I could have freedom today.
God Bless
Stephanie Hall