THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Sp6 Claude Williams, Thank you for your service as a Clinical Specialist/Practical Nurse. Thank you for the lives you saved. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Happy New Year. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance, and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

I wish I could have know you. But I didn’t know mom (your sister) after I was 4 (1960) just like her u we’re gone to soon

In 1971, the 85th Evacuation Hospital was located at Phu Bai Combat Base in Hue, Thua Thien Province, RVN. Its medical personnel treated hundreds of wounded combatants on both sides of the conflict in the northern border area. They also assisted the population of Thua Thien Province by providing first aid and medical care for civilians wounded in Viet Cong shellings, attacks, and sabotage, and victims of traffic accidents and hard-to-cure diseases. SP6 Claude A. Williams was a Clinical Specialist/Nurse Practitioner serving with the 67th Medical Group at the hospital. On April 21, 1971, Williams died on Phu Bai Combat Base after he was fatally wounded by another American. Reportedly, he was playing penny ante, a low-stakes form of poker, with one of the cooks and another man. After winning several rounds of play, the cook became enraged, retrieved a rifle, and shot Williams. He was admitted to the medical facility and later expired. In an improbable action, following an investigation, the Army recorded the loss an “accidental homicide.” [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Hubert Hill (January 2022); obituary from The Maryville-Alcoa Daily Times (Maryville, TN), April 29, 1971, courtesy of Timothy C. Walker, President, Blount County Genealogical and Historical Society, Maryville, TN]

You will always be remembered You were and still a good friend.

Specialist Six Claude Arthur Williams, Served with the 85th Evacuation Hospital, 67th Medical Group, United States Army Vietnam Medical Command, United States Army Vietnam.