THE WALL OF FACES

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's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Dear Gysgt Anthony Valente, Thank you for your service as an Infantry Unit Leader. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It was the anniversary of 9/11 yesterday. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

GySgt Tony Valente and I served together in Delta Co., 1st Battalion, 9th Marines in northern I Corps in Vietnam in ‘67. I was the 3rd Plat Cdr, then the Delta Co XO. Tony was the Company GySgt. He was a very level headed, trustworthy and funny character, always willing to help and support the company’s young officers like me. I stayed in the Corps, leading Marines at every rank through colonel. When I would think of a good gunny, Tony Valente is the first one that I think of. I miss him.

On February 26, 1968, North Vietnamese Army gunners fired 150 rounds of artillery, 590 rockets, and 50 mortars into Khe Sanh Combat Base in Quang Tri Province, RVN, killing four Marines and wounding over 20, nine of which required evacuation. One of the rounds hit C Company, 1/26 positions, killing PVT Ransom L. Stuck, who received shrapnel in his chest. PVT Stuck had been due for discharge in February but was serving “bad time” until the end of March at Khe Sanh to move up his departure time from Vietnam. He had two athletic scholarships to attend college and wanted to be out of the military by April. PFC Raymond J. Brereton was a chaplain’s assistant from H&S Company, 1/9 Marines. One of the mortar rounds went down in front of a Conex box where PFC Brereton was passing out some literature for the chaplain. Critically injured in the blast, Brereton was evacuated to Naval Support Activity Station Hospital in Da Nang where he succumbed to fragmentation wounds to the head and body. LCPL Paul F. Stedman, an Engineer from A Company, 3rd Shore Party Battalion, 3rd Marines, also suffered fragmentation wounds to the head and body during the barrage. He died while on the medical evacuation flight to Da Nang. Gunnery Sergeant Anthony N. Valente, an 18-year military veteran, was also fatally injured after being hit in the head by mortar fragments. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and khesanh.org]

Dear GSGT Anthony Nicholas Valente, 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