THE WALL OF FACES

My name is Jim Hartman. I am working with PA State Representative Thomas Murt. Tom has received authorization to build a memorial for our Viet Nam hometown heroes from Hatboro, PA. Bill Ahlum lived on Tom's street. They were neighbors.

We are searching for people who knew our hometown boys (7) to gain some insight into them for the memorial. For fear of stirring up any bad memories, can you provide us with any insight?

For the record Tom is a decorated Iraq vet and I'm an old SEABEE MCB 71 68-74.

Tom's email is [email protected]

Our KIA:
William John Ahlum Army Captain neoighbor of Tom Murt
Howard Edward Cashman Army SP4
Jame Patrick Kelly Army 2LT
Joseph Lannon USMC PFC childhood friend and classmate
Robert Preston Ruttle Army SP4
Ronald Carlton Smith Army SP4
Robert Richard Wright Army 1LT

God Bless and thank you,
Jim Hartman

Bob,
I remember you most from French class and the football team. Since first seeing your obituary, I have thought of you often. God Bless you.

Pilot Is Killed As Reds Down His Helicopter

Army 1st Lt. Robert R. Wright Jr., a 1964 graduate of Upper Moreland High School in Montgomery County, was killed in the crash of a helicopter he was piloting in Vietnam.
Lt. Wright died Monday when the aircraft was shot down by North Vietnamese ground fire, then burned, the Defense Department notified his wife.
Mrs. Wright, the former Marsha Goldsmith, is an expectant mother and is living with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Goldsmith, at 4130 Davisville rd., Hatboro.
Lt. Wright's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Wright Sr., live at 107 Bonnett lane, Moreland Manor, Upper Moreland Twp. The elder Wright is an engineer at WNPZ Radio in Lansdale.
Lt. Wright attended Millersville State College for 18 months before enlisting in the Army on May 23, 1966. He was graduated from Officers Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., on May 2, 1967 as a second Lieutenant, and took helicopter training at Fort Walter, Tex., and at Fort Rucker, Ala., completing his schooling on July 2.
He left the United States for Vietnam on August 12.
According to his wife, he was assigned to A Company, 1st Aviation Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, at Phu Loy near Saigon. He was recently transferred to the unit and had written that he expected to be transporting officers and flying observation missions.

Robert,
Our class at Gridley High School in Gridley Illinois is doing a project to honor all the American Heroes who gave their lives fighting for our country and what it stands for. We will never forget the courageous sacrifice that you made so others could know the freedom you knew. We will never be able to adequately thank or repay you, but we are sincerely grateful. You will always be remembered as an American Hero; courageous, brave, and free. God Bless you and your loved ones! Thank you!
Sincerely,
Kaleigh Schlipf

Dear Soldier,
Hello, my name is Nick Lyons. I am a Junior at Gridley High School in Illinois. My U.S. History Class is doing a project to leave remembrances for soldiers who do not have any. It is a shame and a travesty that more Americans do not take a few minutes out of their day to leave their thanks and gratitude to great Americans like you who gave their lives so they could be free. Thank you so much for making the ultimate sacrifice so millions of Americans could continue to live in a free society. You are truly a great American! To the family and friends of this soldier I give my deepest apologies, and may God Bless.
Nick Lyons