THE WALL OF FACES

Great sadness fills our hearts today
As pipes and drums, in slow march play.
A comrade’s fallen by the way,
And now we say goodbye.

This hero to the very end
Was more than just a casual friend,
Who would a stranger’s life defend,
And now we say goodbye

But we shall cherish, all our days,
The character this life portrayed
With sacrifice so freely made,
And now we say goodbye.

The hand salute, o’er Stars and Stripes,
And distant skirl of highland pipes,
Bid last farewell with hero’s rights,
And now we say goodbye.

While here on Earth, you gave your best.
Now in the Master’s arms you rest.
T’is by your memory we are blessed.
And now we say goodbye.

Dear Cpl Terry Thornton, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Today is the 53rd anniversary of the start of your tour. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is another summer. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

On the remembrance of your 70th birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

I was an NCO in 2/14th, Alpha Company, third platoon and served with Terry in 1969. I was with Terry on the night he and seven other members of our platoon were killed. The saddest time of my tour.

A little after midnight on December 28, 1969, Viet Cong sappers attacked the northern perimeter of Alpha Company who were hunkered down in foxholes they dug the afternoon before in the Ho Bo Woods in Binh Duong Province 20 km north of Cu Chi. The three VC sappers snuck up on 3-6’s position and threw satchel charges and hand grenades and fired Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) into 3-6’s foxhole and the foxholes to the west. They then opened up with AK-47’s. A total of eight members of the third platoon were killed. They included 2LT John W. Foreman, SGT Robert L. Emery, CPL Terry A. Thornton, CPL Charles E. Merritt, SP4 Danial “Whitey” G. Heiderich, CPL Allen R. Rader, CPL Otis Carthage Jr., and CPL Roger D. Cox.[Taken from i-kirk.info/2nd14th]