THE WALL OF FACES

Dear CPL Gary Don Carter, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter

On 25 May 1969 Bravo Company, 1st Bn, 3rd Marines, was holding a defensive position about 5 kilometers southwest of Cam Lo (in Quang Tri Province just south of the DMZ). The position had received enemy 82mm mortar fire during the morning hours, apparently without harm, but the company's luck changed in the afternoon. The Command Chronology reports that
'At 251745H, at Bravo Company position vicinity YD055684, the NVA firing 82mm mortars ... dropped one round into the increments pit of the 81mm mortars, setting them on fire, fire spread to the 81mm ammo in the ammo pits, this started the 81mm ammo going off, and the fire spread to a pallet of 81mm ammo near the position, causing it to explode. People trying to put out the fire before the explosion got too close, Bravo suffered 8 KIA, 29 WIA, and 2 MIA. Rounds continued to cook off, making it impossible that night to get every one of the KIA or WIA out. Company forced to move off hill by continuous explosions.'
On the morning of the 26th the Marines regrouped, reoccupied the position, and recovered additional bodies, increasing the casualty count to 12 dead. No identifiable remains were recovered for two Marines known to be present, and a week later one of the wounded died of his injuries. The fifteen men were
1stLt John W. Abbott, Hammond, IN, Bravo 13
2ndLt Timothy M. O'Neill, St Louis, MO, Bravo 13
Cpl Gary D. Carter, Tyler, TX, Bravo 13
Cpl Daniel L. Pucci, Berea, OH, Bravo 13 (DoW 06021969)
Cpl Jan Rauschkolb, Denver, CO, H&S 13
Cpl William F. Skaggs, St Paul, MN, Bravo 13
LCpl Paul A. Graff, Sunnyvale, CA, H&S 13
LCpl Michael A. Powell, Atlanta, GA, H&S 13
LCpl John Winters, Clark, NJ, Bravo 13
Pfc Jimmy K. Church, Columbus, OH, Bravo 13
Pfc Keith A. Kahlstorf, Britt, IA, Bravo 13
Pfc Edward T. O'Donovan, Chicago, IL, Bravo 13
Pfc Jim J. Walters, Sioux City, IA, Bravo 13
Pfc Leroy C. Williams, Jacksonville, FL, Bravo 13 (Body not recovered)
Pvt Monek Weitz, Roxbury, MA, A Btry, 112 Marines (Body not recovered)

Semper Fi, Marine.

Gary is buried at Tyler Memorial Park in Tyler, TX. PH

Gary & I met at MCRD San Diego and became close friends in bootcamp. We became best friends through infantry training at Camp Pendleton and went to Vietnam together in May 1968. We stayed together in Bravo Co.,1st Bn.,3d Marines,3d Marine Division. We had 5 days left in the bush when he died on May 25,1969. I was there. A part of me died with Gary as I lost my best friend. But he is remembered in my mind and heart. I miss you,Gary. Semper Fi

Michael'Rod' Rodriguez