THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. While all deaths in Vietnam are tragic that you died just one day after your 23rd birthday is especially so. May you rest in eternal peace.

Dear Cpl Lawrence Waiters, Thank you for your service as an Indirect Fire Infantryman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart . Halloween 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.

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

During Operation Binh Tay–MacArthur, the U.S. 4th Infantry Division was responsible for the defense of the provincial and district capitals that lay along National Highway QL-14, a paved road that ran from north to south through the middle of the Central Highlands. At 1:15 AM on August 28, 1968, D Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry were at a firebase east of Duc Lap, a town along QL-14 near the Cambodian border in Darlac Province, RVN, when they received a mortar and ground attack from an unknown-sized North Vietnamese Army (NVA) force. The Americans fought back with unit weapons and contact with the enemy was broken at 3:30 AM. Five U.S. were killed in the engagement and seventeen wounded. The lost personnel included SP4 Jedd E. Ashby, SGT Bradley R. Degenaars, SGT William T. Davis, PFC Pedro C. Diaz, and PFC Lawrence Waiters, a member of A Company, 1/22. Two NVA were confirmed killed. Several of the men received posthumous promotions: Ashby was elevated in rank to Sergeant, Davis to Staff Sergeant, and Diaz and Waiters were advanced to Corporal. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, 1-22infantry.org, and “Operational Report of the 4th Infantry Division for the Period Ending 31 October 1968” at ttu.edu]

Thank you Corporal Waiters for your leadership and courage.