THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever.

Dear PO3C Steven Wolter, Thank you for your service as a Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class with the 5th Marines, Semper Fi. Thank you for the lives you saved. The 55th anniversary of the start of your tour is in 2 days. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, Happy Valentine's. 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 the remembrance of your 77th birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Semper Fi, Doc

In the early morning hours of March 31, 1968, an estimated 150 North Vietnamese Army soldiers attacked two major bridges along Highway 1, seven and eight miles south of Phu Bai in Thua Thien Province, RVN. The bridges were defended by U.S. Marines and Vietnamese infantrymen. The attack began at 3:33 AM with the enemy employing rocket-propelled grenades and 82mm mortar fire. The NVA succeeded in overrunning the northern bridge and the U.S. Marine security element defending it. The enemy then destroyed the bridge with satchel charges and retreated. The NVA also took part of the Truoi River Bridge a mile to the south and blew out the center span. The bridge was defended by U.S. Marines and Vietnamese railroad security men. A reaction force of Marines from B Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines was dispatched to assist the defenders. Fifteen Marines and one Navy corpsman were killed in the fighting, and 58 were wounded. The lost Marines included PFC Richard Garcia, PFC Robert K. Horspool, PFC Gerald L. Johnson, PFC Thomas J. Kovacevich, PFC Richard F. Links, CPL Arthur C. McLellan, LCPL Charles D. Miller, PFC Kevin W. Moore, PFC William R. Neal, LCPL Erasmo Palos, PFC Walter R. Riggs, CPL Walter W. Rosolie Jr., PFC Edward T. Stone Jr., PFC Thomas P. Sweeney, and CPL James J. Tedesco; the lost Navyman was HM3 Steven R. Wolter. A reported 64 NVA were confirmed killed, although that number was considered to be higher. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Communists Blast 2 Key Viet Bridges.” Pacific Stars & Stripes, date unknown]

Steve remains in my memory after all these years.