THE Wall

[frisco-kid]

It was good to see so many young people here. I saw many of them taking rubbings. All that came near me were talking in soft tones of respect.

[frisco-kid]

The town hosting the Moving Wall, Santa Clara, had 36 of it's sons die in VN.

[BLUEHAWK]

thanks Tom...

[frisco-kid]

My friend Manny's little brother is at line 23. The first white dot is at line 20, the second at line 40, etc..

The 2 paratroopers that were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their actions on Hill 875 are also on this panel, as they died the same day as Mario.

Charles J. Watters: line 36

Carlos J. Lozada: line 45

[BLUEHAWK]

Where is THE WALL, in our hearts?

[MORTARDUDE]

Tom :

I just re-read all your posts on this thread. Thanks for sharing.

Last night we had our combined 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM group session at the Vet Center on the last Wed. of the month when the Chaplain for the VA hospital comes to talk to us. Last year he went thru the 12 step PTSD program. I missed most of it. Anyway, we had 31 combat vets ( two marines and the rest Army ) all together. The largest group I believe I have been with like this since I left the Army in 1971. Most have been thru the PCT and PTSD therapy at the VA hospital. The picture below was on the wall in the room. Lots of tears and lumps in the throat. I urge anyone who has not been to a Vet Center to go. Just try it. It took me a long, long time to go, but it is so healing..

WELCOME HOME !!

Larry

[Bill Farnie]

First time was in 1985 with my wife and two young sons. We went to Washington on vacation so the boys could see our nations capital and all the history associated with it. I really wasn't planning to go to The Wall because I was afraid of how I would react but my wife and kids talked me into it and turned out to be one of the best things that I have ever done. I started to cry uncontrollably and my family was there to support and comfort me and after that day I started to open up about my VN experience with my family and I grew much closer to my sons.

Second time was in August 2002 when I went to my Regiments reunion. Cried again but it was much easier because I was with men who I served with.
Below is a picture of us at the wall and the story that goes with it.


Due to prior commitments, some of the Currahee veterans from D Co, 1-506th, 1969 attending the 2002 Currahee Reunion could not participate in the Saturday, August 17, Bus Trip to Washington, DC, so they drove down on Friday, August 16, to the Vietnam Wall for their own special ceremony.
E-7 Ron Kane was awarded a Silver Star for his actions on Hill 996 on July 11, 1969; however, Ron was wounded and hospitalized, and the Army sent him his Silver Star in the mail after he returned home, so Ron was unable to participate in the official ceremony where he would have been pinned with the Silver Star by his CO. The Delta Company veterans attending the Reunion were determined to rectify this situation.
MAJ(R) Gerald Curtis (LT in D Company in 1969) presents E-7 Ronald Kane a miniature of the Silver Star that he earned on July 11, 1969 on Hill 996
(L-R): Richard "Doc" Daniels; Sal Gonzalez (RTO), Ronald "Gumby" Kane; Jim "Bike" Hoyt (also a Silver Star recipient on Hill 996), Bryan Rapp (M-60 Gunner), and William "Frisbee" Farnie
The group is standing in front of the panel containing the names of the men who died on Hill 996

[82Rigger]

"Look deeply into my black granite face and see yourself in the reflection - your face, super-imposed on names. Never forget the names, the names, the names - for they hold the answer."

Terrence O'Donnell, Esq. (USAF) Vietnam 1969-1970

[BLUEHAWK]

Lady Carol has vowed she would go there with me, I've been advised to go with someone dear... she is dear to me, so I am going with her.

I am not afraid... something though, something... so she must be there when I am.

[BLUEHAWK]

I am just gonna freakin' come to pieces...