THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from Steve Hoy is touching. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever....

After 51 years of thinking of that day I’ve come to realize it comes down to the randomness of life. It was our platoon’s turn in the in the rear, as a medic you were always near the front.
Alpha 3-3

Bobby....Honoring you on your birthday...God Bless

Bobby was a Combat Medic with the 2nd BN, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Bobby was attached under the Headquarters Company, however like other Combat Medics he was actually imbedded full time with the soldiers who were in the field. We were hometown friends. Bobby and I enjoyed customizing our cars and cruising E street [like the movie American Graffiti]. After we said our goodbyes to our families at Ontario airport, we boarded our Air California flight heading to Oakland Army Replacement. We reported to the Oakland Army Replacement Debarkation terminal and spent several days there waiting for orders. We lived inside one of the large warehouses adjacent to the railroad tracks. The living conditions were very Spartan. We were ordered not to take any pictures because of these Spartan like conditions. I remember antiwar protesters positioned themselves on the OAR train tracks to block any movement of the trains. When Bobby and I talked about our service, we felt that it was our duty to serve our country. During WWII, our fathers served in the military. After receiving our orders, we boarded a 707 chartered by Tiger Airlines and we lifted off from Travis AFB bound for Saigon, Republic of South Vietnam [RVN]. Bobby was a member of one of two cycles [graduating classes] of medics from Ft. Sam. The majority of soldiers flying on that Flying Tiger Airlines plane bound for Vietnam were medics. I was one the few soldiers on the plane that was from an infantry MOS. During a layover stop in Anchorage Alaska for refueling, we were allowed to go into the terminal; it was snowing heavily and the temperature was about seven degrees outside. We wanted some civilian food to remind us of home before we left on the next leg of the long flight to RVN. We grabbed blankets from the jet to keep warm and then went inside the airport terminal. Bobby and I really enjoyed our fresh eggs, bacon, toast and coffee. After many hours in the air, we descended low enough to look out through the window at the countryside. We observed a patchwork of large round shaped bomb craters that were filled to the top with water of different colored hues. As we continued our descent we were able to see in the distance the muzzle flashes coming from the artillery pieces. Then we arrived at Tan Son Nhut AFB in Vietnam. As the doors opened on the aircraft, we were hit with a strong whiff of a pungent smell. The combination of the moisture in the air made it muggy. We looked at each other as we climbed up the steps of a bus with windows that were covered with heavy gauge wire in order to stop grenades and other objects. We were transported to the 90th Replacement Center adjacent to Camp Alpha in Long Binh, to await our unit assignment. To keep us busy, we were given jungle fatigues to wear, and sent out on different maintenance duty jobs [e.g. filling sand bags, KP]. We spend two or three days at the 90th Replacement awaiting our orders and assignment to our field units. Bobby and I were hoping that our orders would be for the same unit. When our orders finally came through, Bobby was sent to the 9th I.D, and I was sent along with some of his Ft. Sam classmates to the 25th I.D. A medic friend of Bobby’s named Larry received orders for the same mechanized unit as I did, which was the Triple Duce, but we were assigned to different companies. After receiving our orders for our respective units, we said our goodbyes and shipped out. We did not hear again from Bobby.
Upon returning from Vietnam, I spoke with Bobby’s brother Michael and found out that Bobby was KIA. Bobby was on a patrol with A Company 2nd BN, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division near AP BINH LONG. At about 1736 on 6 January 1969, Bobby’s A Company had made contact with the enemy. They were involved in a firefight located near enemy bunkers beside a river bend near AP BINH LONG. A Company was pinned down and taking heavy fire well into the night and early morning hours. At daylight, sweeps were conducted without further incident. Bobby and seven of his fellow Brothers from A Company were KIA in the firefight. During firefights, the Combat Medics job was to take care of the wounded soldiers. They always performed their job displaying the character of a hero. Bobby was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. I have been to visit with Bobby and our other brothers at the Wall and the traveling wall many times over the years. Brother you are remembered and my heart remains heavy with your loss.

Dear PFC Robert Chacon,
Thank you for your service as a Pharmacy Specialist. Today we celebrate all the saints in heaven. Today, we celebrate you. It is so 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.