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 one day before your 21st birthday is especially so. May you rest in eternal peace.

Dear Sgt Lanny Wesson, Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Your 75th birthday is soon, but unfortunately, your 54th anniversary is the day before it, sigh. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Advent has begun. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance, and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Lanny and I were in the same squad together. I went into combat in April 1968 and Lanny came about two months later. Lanny was a free spirit quick to laugh. It was fun being around him. My fiancé was in nursing school and she wrote me that some of the student nurses wanted to write to a soldier. Lanny was the first one to volunteer to write back. He wrote to her on a regular basis. He was a good soldier, brave. He was on point many times when we were on patrols and operations. I was wounded on Dec 5, 1968 so I wasn't there when he died. I was in the Army hospital At Fort Sill Oklahoma. One of the guys in the squad wrote me a letter said he had been killed by a bobby trap while on ambush patrol. I cried, I'm an emotional person. I thought about his family. God relieved him from combat and his pain was over. Our pain will go on forever.

Dear SGT Lanny Lamar Wesson, 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

Photo courtesy of James Newsome.