THE WALL OF FACES

For a glorious, shining moment, this war was won by a peacemaker in a soldier's uniform. Goodwill energy of joy and laughter was manifested on earth as seen in a child's smiles of wonderment with an American soldier in shared, harmonious, peaceful, happiness. And who captured on paper this moment in time ? His name was Captain Rong van Nguyen, Army Republic Viet Nam. He and Lieutenant William West were soldiers together in a friendship of Eternity with a shared pursuit of preserving the freedom of an independent nation called The Republic of Viet Nam. Captain van Nguyen was with Lieutenant West, the two together, side by side, at the moment William Edward West was mortally wounded. Under enemy fire, Captain van Nguyen rescued his friend to medical care and remained by his side until Lieutenant West's final departure from this realm. Captain van Nguyen carried on the struggle of his people to continue to remain a free and independent nation, knowing the history of his country has been one of an independent country of the Nguyen people and separate from the Trinh people of the North. They had never been joined together in heritage of country, customs, or beliefs. The Communist Vietnamese seized an independent nation in an act of aggressive warfare against freedom. Lieutenant Colonel Rong van Nguyen was imprisoned for six years by the Communist Vietnamese due to the fact he had been an American ally of freedom. Later Rong van Nguyen escaped to freedom and became an American citizen for the right reasons: for a love of the country and its people, and the home of his friend, William Edward West. Rong van Nguyen is now John Ronald van Nguyen, United States of America citizen in mind and body, heart and soul, and the Eternal friend of a peacemaker soldier William Edward West who believed in Freedom For All and gave of his life for that belief.

friends of WILLIAM EDWARD WEST.

The VC initiated their first attack on the 5th in Da Lat at 0440 hours when they again attacked the ARVN communications center on Hill 1535. A CIDG company moved after first light to reinforce the communications center but was stopped by a VC blocking force. The CIDG company became engaged in four hours of fighting and started to run low on ammunition. When their request for help was sent out, an Army advisor named 1LT William West answered the call. Despite being in the last month in his tour, the good-natured officer from East Granby, CT took it upon himself to procure ammunition for the CIDGs in contact. Sadly, he was killed in the fighting as he attempted to deliver the ammunition.