THE WALL OF FACES

I did not know CPL James Abbott but I served with the 25th Infantry Division (1-27 Infantry Wolfhounds) from 1969-70. I salute your Service and Sacrifice. May you find the peace of the Lord and your family and friends as well.

FOREVER REMEMBERED

"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them....
Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heros you left behind...."

Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell
KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces.

We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you, one of the gentle heros lost to the War in Vietnam:

Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul ... and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.

From your Nam-Band-Of-Brothers

I served with Jim Abbott. Jim was a brave and friendly man. Jim died trying to help his comrades as we encountered landmines.

I was wounded 1st, then Jim advanced to Point to disarm another mine. Jim was engulfed in a huge explosion.

I was medivaced with Jim - but he tragically died in triage at the 12th Evac.

I still fondly remember Jim.

Goodbye, America's heroes, we have shamefully failed to stand by you, for all the wrong reasons which had tempted us aside! Now we must pay the price for letting those who survived down, as well knowing some who didn't have to die have died! We must honor them every day when we see their names upon the Wall! And from every corner of the land, they answered to the call! Every SOLDIER, sailor, airman, and Marine and Coast Guardsman, too...they all gave their lives so we could live beneath the old Red, White, and Blue. For those who've gone before, we say "WELL DONE! Be thou at peace!" We salute this fine soldier, Corporal Abbott, whose devotion to DUTY...whose devotion to HONOR...and ABOVE ALL!...whosedevotion to God and our COUNTRY!...the land that he loved...the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave...will NEVER...I say again, will NEVER be extinguished from our minds!