THE WALL OF FACES

I kept your hat bushman,I still have it,I still cherish it,I still wear it in your memory.SemperFi my friend.

Not to make a comment about Bill would be terrible. We spent so many days in school together. When it came to sports, of course, I'd sit in the stands and cheer him on. I was also in Vietnam the same time as he was but in different places. I had been up in Quang Tri Province (where he died) during the battle for Khe Sanh, but fortunately I went back down south. I didn't even know Bill was there then.such a shame, I know I could have found him and at least sat and talked some. Life deals the cards and we just have to play the hands we get. I have felt so bad for so many years not knowing why I came home but so many others didn't. I leave you with a short poem from Lawrence Bryon: "They shall not grow old, As we that are left grow old, Age shall not weary them Nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, And in the morning, we will remember them." I assure you Brother, you're not forgotten. Semper Fi Bro. Friday, July 06, 2001

Billy was an older teenager in my neighborhood who I looked up to when I was growing up in Kings Ridge in Mahopac, NY. Billy, you set a great example for how to live a life, and I can still feel the shock of your loss, and your family's pain. Thank you for being a great role model, and for your sacrifice for our country.

Bill and I met in the early months of 1969 in Vietnam. We were together in Kilo Co. 3/3,1st. Plt..
Bill was 2nd. squad leader and I had just made 3rd. squad leader. Bill helped me learn how to check
our lines at night "in the bush", keeping our men awake without getting ourselves shot in the process.
He also shared his sister's ( Judy) choc. chip cookies , and we talked about home , family future plans and the girl
he was going to marry. We became friends!
On Sept. 15th.,69 in a place called Mutter's Ridge (on the southern edge of the D.M.Z.) we talked
again early that morning. We ate our breakfast of 20 year old C-rations and laughed , joked and talked
about the day ahead. I remember saying to Bill as we finished up eating and started to form up , you
guy's keep your eyes open and be careful up there.( Bill's squad was to lead the Plt. up the next hill)
Bill said , I'll see you guy's up on top of the hill. Our Plt. was ambushed that morning taking 42 casualties out of the 48
Marines with us. At least 5 died in the initial ambush. Bill and some other good Marines died that morning
, and none of our lives have been the same since. He is in our hearts and minds forever , and one day..
when I get to the top of "the Hill" , I expect to see him there , and we'll talk again. Bill , never forget...
you're never forgotten! Your old buddy , Ray

Billy, I still think about you a lot. If I hear the words, "Viet Nam," I immediately start thinking about you and about how much everyone loved you.
Also, if I hear the Four Seasons song, "Sherry," it makes me cry because you sang it to me every time I saw you in the halls at school!
You were one of a kind, and I really hope I see you again someday!

From Cherie (Boshe) Walsh