THE WALL OF FACES

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed...
We feel lucky to have seen it.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 50 years! George and I served together at Headquarters battery 3/11 Marines for a while. Then George was sent to Golf battery on hill 10 and I was sent to India battery on hill 65. George was one of best and kind person I’ve ever met. He and I would talk about returning to the states and what we would do. However; the Lord had other plans for George. Rest In Peace my Friend and God Bless you!

PFC George Colunga was a Field Artillery Fire Control Man serving with G Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division. On March 3, 1969, PFC Colunga was on Hill 10, two miles southwest of the Tuy Loan Bridge in Quang Nam Province, RVN, when the area came under enemy recoilless rifle fire. During the 1:00 PM attack, seven 75mm rounds were fired at the Marine position. Colunga was fatally injured after being struck in the neck by fragments from one of the exploding rounds. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

Dear PFC George Colunga,
Thank you for your service as a Field Artillery Fire Control Man. Today starts 2018, Happy New Year, and it is the 8th Day of Christmas. 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.

I was the corpsman (HM2) with Golf Battery 3/11. I asked George to drive me in a jeep to the Battalion Aid Station of the 3/7 Marines which was on the other side of Hill 10. As we neared the BAS a rocket hit at the top of the hill. We parked the jeep and ran to a ditch at the bottom of the hill near the BAS. I think I remember jumping into the ditch, and the next thing I hear was "We need a corpsman over here".
George was laying on top of me. Since we were near the BAS he was taken immediately to the bas where there was a doctor. His wounds were so severe that he didn't make it. He was between me and the explosion and saved my life. I'm sorry I waited so long to say this. He was my friend.