THE WALL OF FACES

Dear PFC Arthur Turner, Thank you for your service as a Field Artillery Cannoneer. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Labor Day is soon. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

The Landing Craft Personnel (Large) (LCPL) Mk IV was a landing craft used extensively in World War II. Its primary purpose was to ferry troops from transport ships to attack enemy-held shores. During the Vietnam War, the LCPL was utilized for security patrols, provided escort, and did other security tasks on rivers and ports. On the evening of June 8, 1968, an LCPL from Detachment Cua Viet, NAVSUPACT Da Nang, was conducting a patrol on the Cua Viet River in Quang Tri Province, RVN, carrying a searchlight manned by Marines from 1st Searchlight Battery, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. A little after midnight on the 9th, the patrol craft was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade close aboard the starboard (right) side. One searchlight team member, PFC Arthur T. Turner, was lost overboard, and another man, BM3 Gerald L. Miller, was fatally injured after sustaining multiple fragmentation wounds. Three others were seriously injured and one more suffered minor wounds. The damaged LCPL was towed to Dong Ha where it was repaired and returned to service. Turner’s body was later recovered. Four more attacks by rockets on patrol boats occurred that morning without sustaining casualties or damage. The river was opened for traffic at 7:25 AM after mine sweeping units had completed a transit of the river. A company of Marines was lifted into the ambush area by armored troop carriers for a daytime ground sweep to secure the river bank. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, “Command Chronology, 1st Searchlight Battery, 3rd Marine Division, June 1968” at archives.gov, and NAVFORV, Monthly Historical Supplement, June 1968]

Hi dad, this is your daughter, Melody. You were killed when i was only about 3 years old, so unfortunately I never got the chance to know you. I've spent my whole life missing you & wishing I could've known you. I'm your only child, and my mom always told me how much you loved me and how you used to carry me around with you all over the place when I was born. I'm now 51 years old, married to a wonderful man; who is actually a veteran himself. I have 3 wonderful children & 2 grandchildren. I wish I could've known you, I love you dad.
Your daughter, Melody Turner Alexander

Dear PFC Arthur Travis Turner, 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, Sir

Curt Carter