THE WALL OF FACES

Bill Bryan was one of the best friends I ever had. We grew up in the same small town of McKinney, Texas, two blocks apart. His dad and my mom worked together at the cotton mill. Bill was the guy you wanted beside you in a fight, win or lose he was with you all the way. He played center on a championship football team, number 53, and we graduated from high school in 1966. Bill and I joined the Marine Corps on the buddy plan and two weeks after graduation,left Dallas on a train bound for boot camp in San Diego. We were seperated after infantry training and the last time I saw him was at the on-base Beach Club at Camp Pendleton, where he bought me a chocolate malt, we weren't old enough for a beer.He came home on leave and married Diedre Simpson, one of the prettiest girls in town. He died on January 20, 1968, as a true American hero. There is not a day in my life that passes that I don't think about Bill. I named my son after him.
I'll miss you until we meet again my brother, Ronnie D. Foster.
SEMPER FI!

CORPORAL

CHARLES WILLIAM BRYAN


-- PATROL LEADER --

COMPANY " B "

THIRD RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION

THIRD MARINE DIVISION ( REINFORCED )


was a posthumous recipient of the


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ NAVY CROSS ~ ~ ~ ~ ~




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ SEMPER FIDELIS ~ ~ ~ ~ ~




YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE



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CITATION


FOR AWARD OF THE


NAVY CROSS


TO


CORPORAL


CHARLES WILLIAM BRYAN



For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Patrol Leader with

Company " B ", Third Reconnaissance Battalion, Third Marine

Division ( Reinforced ) in connection with operations against

insurgent communist ( Viet Cong ) forces in the Republic of

Vietnam. On 20 January 1968, a seven - man reconnaissance

patrol led by Corporal Bryan was manoeuvering with an infantry

company toward Hill 881 North near the Khe Sanh Combat Base.

The patrol was assigned to detach itself from the unit

inconspicuously and reconnoiter the terrain surrounding Hill 881

North. In addition, Corporal Bryan was instructed to abort the

mission and withdraw if the infantry unit became engaged with

the enemy. As the unit approached the designated area, the

Marines suddenly came under intense hostile small arms and

automatic weapons fire, sustaining several casualties. Reacting

instantly, Corporal Bryan deployed his men to establish an

emergency helicopter landing zone to evacuate the wounded

men. Subsequently, the infantry unit was directed to attack the

hostile emplacements, and realizing the unit was greatly

depleted by casualties, Corporal Bryan requested permission

from his unit to reinforce the infantry company with his patrol.

Quickly integrating his men with an infantry squad, he was

assigned as Squad Leader and skillfully manoeuvered his unit

toward its assigned objective. Upon approaching the designated

area, the Marines began receiving intense fire from an enemy

machine gun position. Undaunted by the hostile fire, he

manoeuvered his men around the flank of the emplacement and

launched an aggressive assault which silenced the position.

Alertly observing one of his men fall wounded in an area dangerously

exposed to enemy fire, he fearlessly ran acoss the fire - swept

terrain to the side of his comrade. While skillfully administering

first aid to the casualty, Corporal Bryan was mortally wounded.

His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and

were instrumental in the subsequent defeat of the enemy force.

By his courage, superb leadership and selfless devotion to duty,

Corporal Bryan upheld the highest traditions of the United States

Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.