THE WALL OF FACES

Edward has a military marker in his memory at Anniston Memorial Gardens, Anniston,AL. SS BSM-OLC Ph-2OLC

STAFF SERGEANT

EDWARD CHARLES UPNER


served with


COMPANY B

2nd BATTALION

2nd INFANTRY REGIMENT

" RAMRODS "

1st INFANTRY DIVISION

" THE BIG RED ONE "



Private First Class Morris Frederick Dibble and Staff Sergeant Edward Charles Upner were squad members of a team led by Sergeant George Joe Buck Eisenberger on a ground combat mission in Binh Duong Province, South Vietnam, on 5 December 1965.

The unit came under hostile fire from what was believed to be a Viet Cong encampment, and in the first burst of fire, the three men were mortally wounded.

When the unit was able to withdraw from the combat area, it was not possible to recover Dibble, Upner and Eisenberger.

When the enemy threat abated, the squad reentered the area in an attempt to find the bodies, only to find that they were gone.

It was generally believed that they were taken by the Viet Cong and probably buried, which was not at all an uncommon thing to do.

( Veterans noted that the Viet Cong also seemed to make it as hard as possible for the graves to be found ).

The three members of Company B are listed among the dead, but because their bodies were not recovered, they are also listed among the missing.

Witnesses felt certain that the three died on the day their unit was hit.

George Joe Buck Eisenberger was an American Indian.

It is said a man hasn't died as long as he is remembered. This prayer is a way for families, friends and fellow veterans to remember our fallen brothers and sisters. Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight, I am the stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there, I did not die.

I have not forgotten you. I chair the Adoption Committee for The National League of Families of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action in Southeast Asia. We will always remember the 1,889 Americans still unaccounted for in Southeast Asia and the thousands of others that lost their lives. We will not stop our efforts until all of you are home where you belong.

We need to reach the next generation so that they will carry on when our generation is no longer able. To do so, we are attempting to locate photographs of all the missing. If you are reading this remembrance and have a photo and/or memory of this missing American that you would like to share for our project, please contact me at:

Candace Lokey
PO Box 206
Freeport, PA 16229
[email protected]

If you are not familiar with our organization, please visit our web site at :

www.pow-miafamilies.org