THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. We should be forever thankful for the sacrifices of you and so many others to ensure the freedoms we so often take for granted.

Dear Cap Douglass Wheless, Thank you for your service as an Armored Reconnaissance Unit Commander and for graduating from WEST POINT. I researched you on your 52nd 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.

The “Friends of Rocky Versace” remember one of Rocky's fellow graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point - a brother Armor Officer, Airborne-Ranger and CIB recipient - Captain Douglass Terrell Wheless, on what would’ve been his 76th birthday – 18 July 2022.

On Sunday, 5 June 2022, graduates of the U.S. Military Academy Class of 1968 conducted a Memorial Tribute Ceremony at the National Museum of the United States Army (NMUSA) on Ft. Belvoir in honor of their 20 Fallen Hero classmates who made the ultimate sacrifice in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Twenty classmates read an individual tribute in the order of the chronological death of each Army Officer – 1LT Donald F. Van Cook Jr. (4 June 1969) thru CPT Henry M. Spengler III (5 April 1972). In addition to Captain Douglass T. Wheless (22 November 1970), the 17 other classmates were: 1LT William F. Ericson II (15 July 1969); 1LT Denny L. Johnson (2 September 1969); 1LT Kenneth T. Cummings (4 September 1969); 1LT David L. Sackett (24 October 1969); 1LT Peter M. Connor (4 November 1969); 1LT James A. Gaiser (7 November 1969); 1LT William F. Little III (11 November 1969); 1LT Donald R. Colglazier (18 January 1970); 1LT Jeffry R. Riek (25 February 1970); 1LT Harry E. Hayes (31 March 1970); CPT Richard A. Hawley Jr. (6 May 1970); 1LT John E. Darling Jr. (18 May 1970); CPT Donald R. Workman (21 July 1970); CPT David T. Maddux (9 August 1970); CPT William F. Reichert (27 January 1971); CPT David L. Alexander (6 February 1971); and CPT Louis J. Speidel (25 June 1971). Following the individual tributes, guest speaker former Army Chief of Staff GEN Eric K. Shinseki, USMA 1965 – a Firstclassman when members of USMA 1968 were Plebes – gave his remarks regarding the importance of remembering the sacrifices of classmates.

On Saturday morning, 4 June 2022, graduates of the U.S. Military Academy Class of 1968 conducted a Memorial Remembrance Ceremony at the Vietnam Wall in honor of their 20 Fallen Hero classmates who made the ultimate sacrifice in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. One hundred sixteen men from USMA 1968 joined thirty-six Gold Star family members for the Remembrance. Henry Riser and Glen Hewitt read the Roll Call of the Fallen. In addition to Captain Douglass T. Wheless, the other classmates remembered were: CPT David L. Alexander; 1LT Donald R. Colglazier; 1LT Peter M. Connor; 1LT Kenneth T. Cummings; 1LT John E. Darling; 1LT William F. Ericson; 1LT James A. Gaiser; CPT Richard A. Hawley; 1LT Harry E. Hayes; 1LT Denny E. Johnson; 1LT William F. Little; CPT David T. Maddux; CPT William F. Reichert; 1LT Jeffry R. Riek; 1LT David L. Sackett; CPT Louis J. Speidel; CPT Henry M. Spengler; 1LT Donald F. Van Cook; and CPT Donald R. Workman. Class Escorts presented a rose to the Gold Star Family representative. Following the sounding of “Taps” by a bugler from the U.S. Army Band, all present proceeded to the Wall to place the rose at the base of the Fallen Hero’s Panel. This 2022 Ceremony was the 8th conducted by USMA 1968 with previous Ceremonies at the Vietnam Memorial Wall in 1998, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2016 (Ft. Benning).