THE WALL OF FACES

Ricky and I were high school classmates at Kankakee High. I still think about him every so often. He was a fun guy.

On this your angel day I want you to know that you are a blessing to a countless number of people past, present, and future. And through your selfless service and courageous deeds your efforts have and will have an influence on many generations. And with all the good you did and the ultimate sacrifice you paid you truly are OUR HERO and we thank God that you lived.

FREEDOM
by Father Denis Edward O'Brien, USMC

It is the soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us the freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us Freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us the Freedom to demonstrate

It is the soldier, who serves beneath the Flag,
Who salutes the Flag,

Whose coffin is draped by the Flag,
Who allows the protestor to burn the Flag,

It is the soldier, not the politician,
Who has given his blood, his body, his life,
Who has given us these FREEDOMS!

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.

Mary Frye – 1932

"We Were Soldiers Once ... And Young"
Chapter 24, "Mentioned in Dispatches", page 311
That errant 105mm howitzer shell exploded among the foxholes in Sergeant Savage's sector. PFC Richard C. Clark, nineteen, of Kankakee, Illinois, was asleep on the ground next to the foxhole he shared with Specialist 5 Marlin Dorman. Clark was killed instantly. Specialist 4 Galen Bungum still grieves over what happened. "I just couldn't believe this. He was right next to me in Ia Drang when we were trapped. We made it throught that, we got out of there, and then he gets killed by our own artillery. Why did Richard Clark have to die that way?"
May the Good Lord have Mercy upon All Their Souls and Welcome them into the Kingdom of Heaven!
VN 70-71

Chuck is right. The only way we can remember you is smiling.

As I get older and look back, those of you who didn't come home really missed out on a lot of life.

You would have been a great husband,dad and probably by now, grandpa.