THE WALL OF FACES

Remember to save for them a place inside of you, and save one backward glance when you are leaving, for the places they can no longer go...

Dear Lt Robert Van Patten, Thank you for your service as a Field Artillery Unit Commander. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Today is the last full day of 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.

I was a new guy, 2 months in country, on November 25, 1967 serving with 2nd Platoon Charlie Company 2nd Battalion (Mech) 22nd Inf Regiment 25th Infantry Division. Our 1st Platoon walked into an ambush at a VC Basecamp. Immediately, 2nd Lieutenant Mlynarski, Pfc John Gibson and Pfc Dennis Estes were killed by machine gun fire. Lt Van Patten, the forward observer for artillery, moved up to try to pull Lt Mlynarski out of the firing and he was hit with sniper fire. 2 days after Thanksgiving and there was nothing to be thankful for.

Thank you Lt. Van Patten for your leadership and exemplary courage under fire.

I served under Lt. Van Patten at Ft.Irwin, ca. and in Cu Chi Viet Nam in 1967. I was 18 and he mentored me as if a brother. He Gave me some good advise and inspiration . I thought he was a wonderful guy .He was a supply officer ,which would have been reasonably safe ,but I heard that he volunteered to be a forward observer which was much more dangerous .Lt. Van Patten was a brave and courageous man ,for which his family should be very proud.