THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Lcpl Philip Wigton, Thank you for your service as a Mortarman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is the 10th Day of Christmas. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance, and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

FINAL MISSION OF HM3 WINSTON PARKER
On May 9, 1968, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, was the point company in a battalion-sized operation pursuing North Vietnamese Army elements that had threatened the Marine combat base at Dong Ha in Quang Tri Province, RVN. Advancing from a night defensive position northwest of the Marine base, Delta moved out along the center of a low gully in a westerly direction. As the company pushed forward, a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire was received from NVA units concealed in fortified positions. In addition to their many machine gun bunkers, the NVA used both rockets and mortars to harass the movement of the Marines attempting to return fire. Delta Company was reinforced by Charlie Company during the assault, and Bravo Company with tanks provided a base of fire. The attack continued, and with the help of the tanks, the NVA were pushed out of the ville. The battalion and Delta Company recovered casualties and took night defensive positions around the ville. The night was long with the crying of village women and the silhouette of the dead Marines gathered together waiting for daybreak and their helicopter flight back to Dong Ha. During the engagement, the battalion suffered about 50 killed and wounded. Delta Company sustained the most casualties, including the Company Commander, CAPT Edward J. Hughes Jr., who was killed by enemy gunshot wounds to the head and body. The following Delta Company Marines were lost in the engagement: LCPL Kurtis N. Chapman, PFC Eugenio E. Fernandez Jr., PFC Edward A. Gillaspy, LCPL Homer Mitchell Jr., HM3 Winston Parker, LCPL Jack E. Porter, LCPL Robert P. Sickles, and PFC Billy G. Stewart. Further Marine casualties included (from C Company) LCPL Larry E. Adolf, (from A Company) tank crewman CPL Robert N. Minetto, who suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the neck; and (from H&S Company) radioman CPL Paul L. Frederickson and Hospital Corpsmen HM3 Winston G. Parker and HN Melvin G. Windham. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and togetherweserved.com]

Forever young and never forgotten.

Knew Greg growing up in Sioux City Iowa. My dad was his uncle. Use to visit at their house on 32nd and Jones. They came to our house in Leeds. Greg and I were playing one time and ended up with a chipped front tooth. Funny story. Still have the chipped tooth and think of Greg every time I look at it. Visited his grave recently. So lucky to have known him. A real American hero. His story and all the others from Vietnam need to be told and honored.

My thoughts have turned to you often over the years. I'm sorry we never got to say that final good bye.
Always in my heart