Visiting The Wall

[tlawler]

Mrs. tlawler went up to visit my son stationed in Norfolk and my daughter, who is doing a traveling Rad Tech gig in D.C. They visited some historic sites in D.C. and stopped at the Wall to take a picture of my brothers name. Daniel Howard Lawler, KIA RVN 20May1967

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I've visited the wall twice now. Fortunately, I don't have any family or friends listed there.

One of my friends has about 18 friends that were on his B team, when they were overran is when he lost them. He told me an SKS round went through two of his buddies, through his own wrist then into his chest and stopped 1/4" from his heart. Now that he has rejoined his unit, he rests at peace with friends.

Ivan

 

[grover99]

Have a few classmates from Military School on that wall but no close friends had to pay the price for our freedom even as some served.

 

[Rudi]

May GOD bless all those souls.

 

[mckenney99]

I visited "The Wall" several years ago while there for another purpose. You would have to be awfully cold hearted to look at that black granite wall and see all those names and not be moved or affected.
tlawler, I am so sorry for the loss of your brother. May He Rest In Peace.

 

[DWalt]

I had one friend KIA in Vietnam. I once saw his name on The Wall. I never found out the circumstances of his death as I had no contact with his family, never met them.

 

[rwsmith]

We visited first time.......

....earlier this year. We weren't able to do much in Washington because the whole city was under renovation and the tour bus company was a rip-off. But we did get to seen the Memorial and that made the whole trip worthwhile.

 

[pmanton]

I don't think I could bear visiting the Wall. :-(

 

[Skeet 028]

I can't go back again...just can't!

 

[Wrangler Rich]

My Granddaughter submitted my name for an Honor Flight, it was the most humbling day in my life. Among all the sites we visited in DC, the Wall and the grave of the unknown soldier were the most solemn. I was standing on the walkway in front of the Wall, when a fellow came up to me and asked if I knew anyone on the Wall. I responded, Yes, they are all my Brothers and Sisters....

 

[Krogen]

My Granddaughter submitted my name for an Honor Flight, it was the most humbling day in my life. Among all the sites we visited in DC, the Wall and the grave of the unknown soldier were the most solemn. I was standing on the walkway in front of the Wall, when a fellow came up to me and asked if I knew anyone on the Wall. I responded, Yes, they are all my Brothers and Sisters....

Thank you, Wrangler Rich.

 

[ameridaddy]

Lawler, I'm sorry for your losing a brother, and your kids' loss of an uncle they never knew. I'm sure going to the Wall and seeing his name brought him a little closer to them.

 

[STCM(SW)]

When station after Desert Storm at the Naval Personal command my office
window I could see Arlington Cemetery. My wife came down one weekend when I had duty. See wanted to see everything. When it came to the WALL I said I didn't want to go for I might see a name of somebody I when to HS with......

 

[Retired W4]

We lost Randy on my very last mission in Vietnam. He was running an M-60 in the back of a UH-1 when they were shot down.

Panel 9W, Line 130 on the wall.

I have several other brothers in arms on that wall. God rest their souls.

 

[Greyman50]

Been there twice, found two guys I knew. Not sure if I’d go back, might be a year or two before thinking about it.

 

[JohnRippert]

I visited The Wall in the '90s when my parents and I went to do Christmas with my sister and her Marine husband. It was almost as moving as the Arizona Memorial which I have been lucky enough to visit as well.

 

[Mr. Vito]

I'm a Vietnam veteran and like many others I did not like the design of the Wall when it was first announced. But when I visited the Wall in the '90's, it was such an emotional experience that I have never been able to go back there again. Its not that I have close friends on the Wall, and the irony is that several men that I served with died far too young after they came home. But I saw a great deal of suffering and death when I was with the 326th Medical Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) and seeing the vastness of the Wall's names just brought it home in all too real an experience. Maybe someday, now that Vietnam is over 50 years in my past, I might be able to go back there again.

 

[mckenney99]

Maybe a slight hijack and I apologize but this artwork also struck me very deeply. I think it was posted here before but it goes right along with this thread.
58,307 dogtags representing those lost in Vietnam. "Above and Beyond".

 

[pmanton]

OMG Those dog tags. :-(