THE WALL OF FACES

Never forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

As long as you are remembered you will always be with us...

Sergeant Ernest Baldonado Amador, Served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

At about 1100 hours on August 10, 1966, during Operation Colorado, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, made contact with elements of two NVA battalions in the vicinity of Cam Khe hamlets (1) and (2) on Route 586, 5 miles west of Tam Ky in Quang Tin Province, RVN. The initial contact developed into a full-fledged battle fought in a driving rainstorm which did not clear until about 1730 hours. Although Marine Observation Squadron 6 (VMO-6) provided armed helicopter gunship support, and both shore-based artillery and naval gunfire supported the Marines, fixed-wing aircraft were unable to operate in the area until the rainstorm broke. The 1/5 Marines suffered 14 men killed in action with another 65 wounded, but killed more than 100 NVA troops before the battle ended on the morning of August 11th. Three Navy corpsmen were among the dead, including HN Lawrence T. Steiner, HM3 James T. Elrod, and HM3 Walter P. Jackson. SSGT Robert T. Walsh, a gunner on a medevac helicopter from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 (HMH-361), was also killed after suffering gunshot wounds to the chest during a medical evacuation. The lost 1/5 Marines included SGT Ernest B. Amador, LCPL Richard P. Donathan, PFC David L. Faught, CPL Douglas B. Haddix, LCPL Robert D. Higbee, LCPL Gregory M. Howard, PFC Lawrence J. Kindred, PFC Melvin Rolle, PVT Richard A. Skinner, SGT John D. Smith, PFC Paul E. Sudsbury, PFC Kenneth E. Tasker, PFC Everette A. Thompson, and LCPL Richard W. Williamson. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and thevirtualwall.org]