THE WALL OF FACES

Came across your name on the wall out of curiosity. BRUGMAN is such a rare name. I found it on the wall in 1992, since then I make it a point to visit you every time I’m in DC. It’s been over two dozen times so far. Just honored you again yesterday. I will continue to visit you every chance I get. Thank you for your sacrifice to our nation.

PFC Paul F. Brugman was a field wireman serving with Communications Platoon, Headquarters & Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force. As a wireman, Brugman laid wire and cable for communications networks to link outposts, control points, and headquarters. While serving in Vietnam, an ongoing threat he and other U.S. military personnel faced was the prevalence of malaria. The disease was almost everywhere, and sharp seasonal surges in infections occurred depending on rainfall, temperature, and other environmental changes. The antimalarial medicine chloroquine was used to treat the disease and largely solved the issue of troop protection; however, in overdose, the drug could be fatal. At 4:50 PM on November 6, 1967, Brugman was medivacked from the Cam Lo Artillery Position in Quang Tri Province, RVN, to D Medical Company at Dong Ha Combat Base due to a suspected overdose of malaria pills. He expired at 5:15 PM from cardiac arrest. An investigating officer was appointed to gather facts about his death; however, it is unclear what outcome it produced as the Marines generally provided very little details regarding such incidents. Brugman was 20 years old. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Anopheles Vectors of Malaria in Southeast Asia, Walter Reed Army Medical Center Washington, D.C., June 1966” at archive.org]

PFC PAUL F. BRUGMAN, It will be my privilege to read your name as part of THE READING OF THE NAMES on 11/08/2022 at 5:08pm in Washington D.C., as is done every 5 years to honor and thank you (and your family) for your service and ultimate sacrifice.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your sister Joanne is especially poignant. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us...

Dear PFC Paul Brugman,
Thank you for your service as a Wireman. 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.