THE WALL OF FACES

Sgt. Eugene Castaneda is buried at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery Number 1 on Hilo, Hawaii.

They shall grow not 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.

Prior to Tet 1968, the PRU compound outside Quang Tri City was hit by a VC/NVA sapper attack. Although the compound was surrounded with around 300 claymore mines and heavy barbed wire, the shelled it with mortars. A special enemy sapper unit crawled down a drainage ditch, cut through the wire, entered the compound and stuffed a satchel charge through the corner bunker killing everyone inside. PRU commander Do Bach, a very experienced and tough Vietnamese left his bunker when the mortar fire halted intending to take out sappers who managed to get inside the compound. Castaneda was following Bach as they moved behind a pile of dirt that protected them. As they were moving, an RPG round cut Castaneda in half and blew out Bach's eardrums.

Dear Sgt Eugene Castaneda,
Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. Your 70th birthday was a few weeks ago, happy birthday. 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 strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Thank you!