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This is the only name I know on the wall. This is my mother's first cousin and he was killed before I was born. What makes it even more sad is that his last letter home to his mother (written on the back of a K-ration box) arrived 3 days after the telegram notifying the family of his death.

KENNETH ALRIC GORE

KENNETH ALRIC GORE was born on July 2, 1948 and joined the Armed Forces while in SHALLOTTE, NC.

He served as a 11B20 in the Army. In 1 year of service, he attained the rank of SGT/E4.

On June 3, 1967, at the age of 18, KENNETH ALRIC GORE perished in the service of our country in South Vietnam, Hua Nghia.

You can find KENNETH ALRIC GORE honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 21E, Row 46.

"...written on the back of a K-ration box."

Hi Wimpycat,

It would be more likely the top of a C Ration box. Stationary was hard to come by. I am not sure how it was with other outfits but the patrols I went on were generally 25 to 30 days at a time. Somewhere along the line, a law was passed that allowed us to write home for free, the only problem was nothing to write on. It was not that hard to see that the top of a C ration box was about the same size as a post card. I wrote many a letters home that way.

Every veteran's memories will of course be different, both because of their own view of things, but the conflict itself changed over the years.

I consider myself lucky that I was part of the early time (1965 to 1966), when both sides were feeling each out.

I was not trained in jungle warfare because even then the real enemy was thought to be the Soviet Union, and the real war when it was to be fought would be in Europe.

My younger brother went over in 1969, and although he survived the war physically, he was not able to readjust upon returning home. He led a self distructive life, and he died before he was 40. In some ways I feel his name should also be on the wall.

It may still be too soon to know what the full purpose and affect the war had on world events, but I am of the belief that it (and Korea, and for the Soviets Afganistan)allowed the two super powers to fight without it becoming WWIII.

It is a good thing these young men and women will not be forgotten, even after we and the memory of us have been forgotten.