THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.

Operation Idaho Canyon was a two-month search and destroy mission in an area roughly bounded by the DMZ on the north, Highway QL-9 on the south, Con Thien on the east, and Khe Sanh to the west. The terrain was rugged, the hillsides jungled, and the North Vietnamese Army was present in force. In mid-September, 3rd Bn, 3rd Marines was operating predominantly along the Cam Lo River valley which ran northwest from Highway 9 into the DMZ between Mutter's Ridge and Hill 1739 north of Khe Sanh. Their Command Chronology for September 1969 contains the following entry: "15 September 1969 0830H - Elements of Company K were ambushed by a reinforced NVA platoon. The enemy used .30 caliber machinegun, AK-47s, ChiComs [grenades], RPGs, and Claymore mines hung in trees. Forty-five minutes after contact, the unit began receiving 60mm mortar rounds for a period of 4 hours, totaling 50 rounds. The unit pulled back and called in artillery, 81mm mortars, gunships, and fixed wing. Results of the contact were 8 NVA KIA, 4 USMC KIA, and 36 USMC WIA." The death of Petty Officer Sickles is missing from the account, raising the toll to five dead: HM3 James A. Sickles, PFC Jerry G. Gatlin, CPL William T. Bushey, LCPL Donald A. Liebl, and LCPL Steven A. Rickerson. [Taken from virtualwall.org]

Dear Cpl William Bushey,
Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. Mahopac is one county down from me. sigh. As the another summer comes to an end, 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.

Many of you knew Billy from school but here in Mahopac Falls where we grew up, Billy never left-----He's still here at the corner of Secor Road and Rte 6N----and I still visit with him often-----Good friends are hard to come by and impossible to give up on------at the risk of repeating myself----Billy never left.

You were the nicest person - from kindergarten up through high school. I will always remember rooting for you at all the sports games you played in. You were taken all too soon from us and will never be forgotten.