THE WALL OF FACES

Great sadness fills our hearts today
As pipes and drums, in slow march play.
A comrade’s fallen by the way,
And now we say goodbye.

This hero to the very end
Was more than just a casual friend,
Who would a stranger’s life defend,
And now we say goodbye

But we shall cherish, all our days,
The character this life portrayed
With sacrifice so freely made,
And now we say goodbye.

The hand salute, o’er Stars and Stripes,
And distant skirl of highland pipes,
Bid last farewell with hero’s rights,
And now we say goodbye.

While here on Earth, you gave your best.
Now in the Master’s arms you rest.
T’is by your memory we are blessed.
And now we say goodbye.

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

Dear Sp4 Marion Zipp, Thank you for your service as an Indirect Fire Infantryman with the 1st Cavalry. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is spring and Lent. 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 August 12, 1969, Communist forces shelled and launched ground attacks throughout South Vietnam in the heaviest outbreak of enemy-initiated action in three months. At least sixteen Allied camps were hit. About 20 miles west of An Loc, North Vietnamese Army troops tried to overpower the 1st Cavalry Division’s LZ Becky for the second day in a row. A 50-minute fight, seven miles southeast of Katum, left 59 NVA dead. Sixteen Americans were killed in the engagement and 36 others were wounded. The lost U.S. personnel included SSGT Samuel Abrams Jr., PFC Greg A. Barker, SP4 Bobby L. Bevard, SGT Thomas W. Carrington, SP4 Fredrick P. Gillen, SP5 Jeremiah M. Hayes Jr., PFC Gary L. Hoskins, PFC Kenney E. Lassiter, SGT Harold G. Miles, SP5 George R. Platter, PFC Garry G. Smith, SSGT George E. Snyder, CPT Donald H. White, SP4 Marion L. Zipp, and CPL Richard J. Zisko. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and Pacific Stars & Stripes, August 14, 1969]

I was with you on the night you died. Remembering you always old
Friend. Still have your pictures, visited you at the wall. LZ Becky was
A terrible place.

SSG Kilgore
Recon Platoon
1969-1970