THE WALL OF FACES

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed...
We feel lucky to have seen it.

Raymond is my long lost 1/2 brother I never got the privilege of knowing! I so wish I could have gotten to know him! I knew of him and was proud of him for his service! Not until a few years ago when I got the wonderful privilege of meeting my other brother Bob and sister Kathy did I find out the whole story! I am so proud of Raymond! What an amazing person! I missed out on my other sister Pat also who I so wish I could have gotten to know! I love all of them a lot! They filled a huge hole in my heart and life! Grateful for all of them! Love, Pam

I was with him when he passed away on my orderly room floor. Friday the 13th ground attack on Tan Tru Base Camp. Our medic “Doc” and I did everything we could to save this hero who gave the ultimate sacrifice. My grandmother sent me a little Christmas tree that was knocked over by an exploding mortar shell. As the tree’s blinking lights flashed we cared for him until there was no life left in his body.

Dear Cpl Raymond West, Thank you for your service as an Indirect Fire Infantryman. Today is your 54th anniversary, sad. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is Advent, and Christmas is soon. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance, and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

On December 13, 1968, Camp Scott, the 9th Infantry Division’s 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry base camp at Tan Tru in Long An Province, RVN, came under a Viet Cong (VC) mortar and ground attack. The assault began shortly after midnight when the Tan Tru District Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) compound had several mortar rounds impact outside its perimeter. Minutes later, a 2nd/60th listening post received sniper fire, and moments after that, the base camp was hit with rocket-propelled grenades, small arms, and machine gun fire from three sides. As a siren wailed inside the camp, the Americans made for their protective bunkers and perimeter berm. The battle lasted two hours as the troopers fought back with unit weapons. Enemy fire was halted by rocket strikes and machine gun fire from gunships of the 9th Aviation Battalion and nearby artillery units from Battery C. 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery, zeroed in on the enemy positions. Two U.S. were killed during the fighting and forty-five were wounded. The lost personnel included SP4 Willie J. McClendon (HHC/2/60) and PFC Raymond J. West (B/2/60). West was posthumously promoted to Corporal. Thirty-three enemy dead were found outside Camp Scott the following morning. A sweep by members of A/2/60 turned up seven 107mm rockets just outside the perimeter berm. The rockets were set up on rickety wooden launchers and aimed towards the base camp. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “VC ground attack thwarted by 2-60.” The Old Reliable (9th Infantry Division publication), December 25, 1968]