THE WALL OF FACES

Sunday, June 18, 2006,

Father's Day,,,

Louis,,,

"Doc" Merriman one last time.,,,

It has been exactly 40 years today since i last talked to you.,,,

Happy Father's Day, for all the children that you would have had.,,,

You are not forgotten.,,,

THANK - YOU - LOUIS,,,

"Doc" Merriman,,,

SEMPER - FI ,,,

thur-morn--05:05--08-Jun-06

PFC Cabrera, Louis, In ten days it will be 40 years since that fateful day.

But, Louis, there has not been a day in the last 40 years that i have not thought about you.

At first i tried to forget your name, which i did. But, that did not help me to forget. I wrote about you, nameless, in a college english class, but, that did not ease the pain. I have talked about you, nameless, to my pscy. and i have talked about you, nameless, to a group of combat medics therapy group. And, nothing has eased the pain.

Louis, i tried my best to save you.. But, you left me no choice. You did not even leave a stump of a leg to put on a tourniquet. Even if we had been in a hospital, it still would not had helped. I could not find a bleeder to put clamp a pair of hemostats.

Louis, i felt so inadequate & as if i was invading your private life as i moved you around to try & stop the bleeding. And as you trashed around in the dirt with hambuger meat that use to be your leg, I tried my best to keep it clean. But, that was impossible and i felt so useless. There was nothing to be able to tie a battle dressing onto.

Even tho the medic therapy group told me that i accomplished the impossible with the tools i had, i still feel like i failed you. Even tho my intellect knows that i did all that was humanly possible; I still remember you and relive that day EVERY day.

You were in such pain so as a last resort i gave you morphine. Then you started to call out your mother. Many times, usally once a month for every month of the last 40yrs., i have thought to somehow look up your mother and give her my condolences. I would tell her what a wonderful son she had who gave up His youth to keep her freedom.

Louis, i was only 8 months older than you. We were both kids at the age of 21. Why am i still alive when i could not save you.? One day, if i make heaven, i will find out.

But, until then i go on every day remembering. I feel so useless that you lost your life while i continue on.

So, Louis, I am sorry. Would we had become more of buddies than what we were if you had made it.? Would you have had as many kids as i did.?

Suffice it to say that Louis, even tho i willfully forgot your name for 38 years, i have not forgotten your face. Your round angelic face i see every day. And, i remember what a nice, polite, quiet Marine you were.

But, Louis, it did not end after they med-evac-ed you out. We stayed in that same spot all night. The next morning, our Marines found your boot still intact & laced & bloused up to the calf. Nobody knew what to do.

I knew that since it had been 24 hours after your med-evac,, that without ice it would be useless.

So, Louis, I honored you. Not knowing at that time that you would not live. Two marines stood guard as i took your leg and buried it. We said a little prayer over it.

So Louis, a part of you is still in Viet Nam and so am i. I just want you to know that i still honor you. You have not been forgotten.

I will probably never meet your parents since WE are now 61 yr.old. So, unfortunately, as mine are, your parents have probably passed away.

And if i ever do decide to go to the wall, i will go to panel 08-E--Line 60.. As i have seen others do, i think i would like to copy your name on paper by highliting with pencil lead.

WHY ??

In an act to HONOR you.. Louis Cabrera, i do not want to forget your name anymore.

For i want to HONOR you and all you gave up. I want to put a name to the face that i have seen every day for 40 years.

You ARE my buddy. Your sacrifice has NEVER been forgotten.

Thank - You , Louis

SEMPER FI

"Doc" Merriman

Although we never met personally, I want to thank you Louis Xavier Cabrera, Jr., for your courageous and valiant service, faithful contribution, and your most holy sacrifice given to this great country of ours!

Your Spirit is alive--and strong, therefore Marine, you shall never be forgotten, nor has your death been in vain!

Again, thank you PFC Louis Xavier Cabrera, Jr., for a job well done!

REST IN ETERNAL PEACE MY MARINE FRIEND

"An God said who shall we send.I answered I am here,send me."

Isaiah 6:8 Et Lux Perpetua Luceat Eis
Requiescant in Pace

Pfc. Louis Cabrera, Jr. served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, Mike Co. He was Killed In Action during Operation HASTINGS. His name stands proudly on the Mike 3/5 Wall of Honor, his fellow Marines will never forget. Semper fi, Brother Marine.

Mike 3/5 website
http://www.securenet.net/3rdbn5th/mike35/