THE WALL OF FACES

I feel your Spirit I feel your Strength... Thank you fir always being there for me... always to this Day..... meet you on the far side banks of Jordan ??

Semper Fidelis, Marine.

Fire Support Bases Neville and Russell were U.S. Marine Corps bases west of Cam Lo in Quang Tri Province, RVN, with Neville the westernmost of the two. In late February 1969, Neville was occupied by Golf Battery 3/12 with Hotel Company, 2/4 as a security force. Five miles to the east, FSB Russell had Hotel and Mortar Battery, 3/12, and elements of 2/4 as a security force, primarily Echo 2/4, but also elements of H&S Company. In the early morning hours of February 25, 1969, both bases were hit hard by NVA sappers—about 200 from the 246th NVA Regiment at Neville, and an equal number from the 27th NVA Regiment at Russell. In each case, the attacks began with heavy mortar fire and supporting artillery fire from within the DMZ, followed by a ground attack clearly intended to destroy the artillery pieces in their gun pits. In both instances, the enemy partially overran the base, and in each case the Marines drove them out again. When the sun rose, the Marines had over three dozen dead and 100+ wounded, while there were 61 enemy bodies inside the two perimeters, but the guns sustained no serious damage and were firing. The 13 Americans killed at FSB Neville were HM2 Walter P. Seel Jr. (posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal), CPL Jeffrey M. Barron (Silver Star), LCPL Thomas H. McGrath, (Silver Star), CPL Gerald D. Zawadzki, LCPL Steven V. Garcia, PFC Raymond L. Flint, PFC Walter L. Lamarr, PFC Samuel C. Macon, PFC David A. Mallory, PFC Royce E. Roe, PFC Carey W. Smith, PFC Willie F. Smith, and PFC Michael L. Zappia. There were 27 Marines and 3 Navy corpsmen killed at FSB Russell; 18 were infantrymen from 2/4, and 9 were artillerymen from 3/12. The three Navymen included HM3 John M. Sullivan, HM2 Kenneth Davis, and HN Donald K. Walsh. The lost Marines were PFC Robert H. Brogan, PFC Robert A. Coffey, PFC Odell Dickens, PFC Douglas B. Forsberg, PFC Juan Gaston, LCPL Kenneth R. Gilliam, PVT Michael A. Harvey, 2LT William H. Hunt, PFC Michael L. Jenkins, LCPL Norman W. Kellum, LCPL Donald R. Lewis, LCPL Larry W. Liss, LCPL James D. Logan, PFC Robert A. McCarthy, CPL Tommy N. Miller, PFC James D. Peschel, LCPL Gerald Przybylinski, PFC Randolph R. Ramsey, PFC David L. Rutgers, LCPL Bruce A Saunders, PFC Allen M. Sharp, LCPL Larry J. Sikorski, PFC Norman R. Surprenant, PFC Robert H. Trail III, PFC James E. Tucker, and PFC George W. Weldy Jr. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and virtualwall.org]

Michael is lovingly missed by his loved ones ,as a body builder,loved to run,no smoking or drinking,he wanted to be a Marine!A good Marine,in good shape and dedicated to his God and his Country!He was all of these and more.His desire to be a priest and to serve his country before priesthood,we know he is serving his God now,as he served his country and fellow Marines!Michael was and is still loved by his stepmother and his half brothers,Johnny and Danny Zappia,who as younger brothers was mentored by Michael.Michael is joined in heaven by his father,Carmelo Zappia and birthmother Jean Zappia!Mary Kay Zappia was married to Carmelo for 43 years and loved Michael dearly,as Michael lived with us for a number of years.He was a joy to be around! One day,we will all join one another,again!Thank you to his fellow Marines and friends who have expressed their remembrance's of Michael,God Bless All Of You and the Marine Corp.

The traveling Vietnam Wall of Faces came here to Humboldt County Calif. And I looked up Mikes name on it. I had seen the Wall once before and each time it is quite moving. I was in the Navy during Vietnam and Retired after 21 years, so I understand the Sacrifices made by Servicemembers and their Families. I will never forget when I heard about Mike's death, what a great loss to all. Mike was a Junior and I was a Freshman at Coolidge Arizona, I will always remember what a good Friend he was and his great smile. I salute all who have and are serving this great country. May God Bless You All. Mike you will always be remembered.