THE WALL OF FACES

As a teenager in Indiana, I was the proud owner of the POW bracelet
that I wore every day with the name "Maj. Samuel Toomey III" and 25 years later I found him on the wall. It is closure for me but I will always remember this name. I am sorry and sad to find out that he most likely died for our country.

Kim Ward
South Bend, Indiana

Dear Sam:

We were in the same fraternity at Central Missouri State University (then College), Warrensburg, MO...Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE), Delta Lambda Chapter. Although we never met, since you were there before I, I had always heard that something had happened to you and that you had not returned from someplace called South Vietnam. Sam, I was a student and member of TKE while you were "over there", and I didn't even know at that time where Vietnam was. However, shortly after I graduated, I was drafted and soon found out where South Vietnam was! Now, through the magic of something new to you, called "The Internet", I am able to understand why you never returned. Had I only known then, when I was in Vietnam, that you were listed as "Missing in Action", I would have struck out on a search for you myself!! Like your loving parents, though, I will never give up hoping that maybe we will indeed have the chance to exchange the TKE grip!

Take care, frater Toomey. We are now twice related: once by the bond of Tau Kappa Epsilon, and now by the bond of all the brave servicemen who so proudly served this great country of ours.

Sincerely,

Steve Jenne
TKE, CMSU
101st Airborne
Vietnam, 1970-1971

From a contemporary press report: March 26, 1990

The Army believes that the remains of Major Samuel K.
Toomey III were among those laid to rest Friday in a
group burial at Arlington National Cemetery. But
Toomey's parents still have not given up hope of seeing
their son alive again.

''Until we see a body, it will be difficult to convince us that he's really dead,'' said Samuel K. Toomey Jr., a retired Army colonel who lived in Independence, Mo., for years before moving to Sun City, Ariz.

''As a parent you always have hope. I can't give up that stand. Neither can my wife.''

Samuel Toomey III disappeared in 1968 when his helicopter was shot down over Laos. Last year, searchers returned with evidence from the crash site, and experts were able to identify the remains of one of the nine crew
members. The rest of the evidence was inconclusive, so
the Army and relatives agreed to have a group burial. The burial ''was one of the most beautiful experiences we've ever had,'' Samuel Toomey Jr. said Sunday night.

''We're very pleased with what the Army did.''

Toomey's refusal to abandon hope stems partly from his experience during the Korean War, where he commanded a battalion. After the Chinese attacked his soldiers, he declared one of his company commanders killed in action.
Searchers found nothing on the battlefield except the commanders's dog tags and watch.

But about five years later, Toomey ran into the commander while walking down a hallway in the Pentagon. The soldier had been captured by the Chinese and later was released.

''I was shocked,'' Toomey said. ''I told him, 'You're supposed to be dead.' ''