THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from Hal Tait is especially poignant. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever...

Private First Class William Tony Brock, Served with Company D, 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

Dear PFC Brock,
Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. Independence Day just passed, and it is important for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Tony's dad and my dad worked for Halliburton. Every so often my senior year Halliburton would get a freight car of chemicals in which had to be unloaded. So Halliburton would hire us teenagers to come down on Saturdays to unload it. Since Halliburton paid us good for the time we would enthusiastically pitch in and help our dads. Tony cheerfully led us teens since he was the eldest teen and a "college man" in 1966-1967. The last time I saw Tony was him standing with a group of my high school peers outside in a church yard talking in December 1967. We waved as we passed them on our way to church and Tony saw us and waved back. That was the last time I ever saw Tony. In Summer of 1968 we moved from Wilburton. One day at college the radio announced the latest Oklahoma casualties and Tony Brock was one of them. I saw his parents after Tony's death when they visited us in Duncan. They were not the same good nature folks we had once known in Wilburton. Mr Brock began working overseas like my dad was doing. As a footnote. While I worked in the Pentagon I would go by and see Tony's name on the wall and place my hand on it to let him know he was not forgotten. Ironically 27-30 years later Sp/4 Chris Tait (my eldest son) served in 2nd BN 8th INF 4th ID. Which is in the same Mechanized Brigade as Tony's former unit. Only back then they were leg grunts using Hueys to get around.

Dear PFC William Tony Brock, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter