Pennsylvania XLIII

It has been a little while since I featured a face in my ongoing Faces of Remembrance series, so I thought today that I would share one from Pennsylvania. Pottstown to be specific.

I have posted about this particular memorial a couple of times before and you can check those out here and here.

But for today, just the face.

As is so often the case, the sculptor was able to capture the "thousand yard stare" of a guy who has just seen too much.

Next time we visit Pennsylvania, I will share a completely different example of how we are depicted. A somewhat startling view of a face from another site.

Next time, on the 26th, we will return to Utah, so join me there as usual at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from Pennsylvania, or any other state. please click on a stater name on the left side of this page. 

I will ask, as I do at the end of nearly every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state, or anywhere you may have visited, from the list at the left, or any place else for that matter. Please send them to the email at the left or directly to me at Ldddad@comcast.net. Thanks.

Wisconsin XIII

 

Neillsville has one of the most interesting and expansive memorials that I have visited. What began as a remembrance for those lost or missing in Vietnam, it has expanded to include many others from other wars. You can take a look at previous posts here and several other post all listed under Wisconsin.

Today, as is so often the case these days, I want to concentrate on some of the other faces from this remarkable site.Some of these are from the 'nam section of the memorial, others , I cannot swear to that, but they are all of soldiers and those touched by war who are not soldiers, but loved ones.

This is the weary face of a Nurse, definitely from 'nam.

 The face of a soldier aiding a fallen buddy.

The buddy.

Family, the other victims of war.

The Highground in Neillsville is a magnificent place. Located in the geographical center of Wisconsin it is available to all Wisconsinites in a one day trip. For the rest of us it is located at: W7031 W Ridge Rd, Neillsville, WI 54456.

It is open 24/7 and is free to all. Go see it! 

Next time, on the 24th, we will return to Alaska, so join me there at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Wisconsin, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.

Oregon XIX

One more in the Faces of Remembrance series on this site. 

Oregon City is the home to this unassuming, difficult to find memorial to one who was awarded the Medal of Honor. My buddy, Steve, and I drove around for quite sometime attempting to locate it. We finally pulled into a parking lot in the area and were about to ask for some help when we spied it, off in a corner, in a copse of trees. 

I've written about the memorial itself before and you can find that post here.

Today, as is the focus of this subset of posts, just the face.

Here is some additional info regarding this hero:

SPECIALIST 4 DAHL WAS ASSIGNED TO 359TH TRANS CO, 27TH TRANS BATTALION, 8TH TRANS GROUP. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION WHILE ASSIGNED AS A MACHINE GUNNER ON A GUN TRUCK NEAR AN KHE, BIN DINH PROVINCE, 23 FEBRUARY 1971. AN ENEMY HAND GRENADE WAS THROWN INTO DAHL'S TRUCK AND REALIZING THE DANGER, DAHL'S TRUCK AND REALIZING THE DANGER, DAHL SHOUTED TO HIS COMPANIONS AND THREW HIMSELF DIRECTLY ONTO THE GRENADE HE SAVED THE LIVES OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TRUCK CREW WHILE SACRIFICING HIS OWN. FOR HIS COURAGE, CONCERN AND EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM, SPECIALIST LARRY DAHL WAR AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR POSTHUMOUSLY.

 

This information was taken from the Memorial Day foundations site. Check out this important organization here: 

https://www.memorialdayfoundation.org/

 

 

Here is a photo I found on the Congressional Medal of Honor website.

 

The memorial may be found near the intersection of Tumwater Drive and S. 2nd Street.

Next time, on the 29th, we will return to Pennsylvania, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Oregon, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.

Maine XIX

Maine has some beautiful and unusual memorials and you can see them posted elsewhere on this site.

Today, in keeping with my most recent posts, I will share a couple of photos honoring individual lost brethren.

Like so many of these, the photos themselves are not of the best quality as they are cropped out of much larger pictures, but, they do honor three from Maine who deserve our everlasting thanks and respect.

Philip S. Bryant, Turner, Maine

Previous post about Mr. Bryant may be seen here.

Clayton Edward Savoy, Orono, Maine

Larry Joseph Nadeau, Orono, Maine

I have written about Mr. Nadeau previously on this site and you may find that post here.

Next time, on the 20th, we will return to Maryland for a "regular" memorial, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Maine, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page. 

Iowa IX

The effort continues to find new and hopefully interesting memorials or faces to write about until I can get back on the road. I have reasons that I cannot travel but this is neither the time nor place.

I have written about Freedom Rock before. It is a magnificent tribute in , Iowa that you can read more about here

The very first picture was a tribute to those who fought and were lost in 'Nam and as I pointed out in the original post, will never be replaced.

Today, I have attempted to pull out two of the faces to add to the Faces of Remembrance series that seems, at least for the time being, to be becoming a dominate feature here.

We see in these two faces a guy in-country and a guy sometime after his return to the world.

Perhaps the same guy.

If you go back and look at the original post you will see that this guy is one of the helicopter crew. The years have taken their toll on face but you can still see the sadness in his eyes.

This guy, older and wiser, still has some of the sadness. We don't know how old he is or what he has experienced since, but the war is still taking its toll.

This guy, taken from the Parkersburg memorial site (here) in Iowa, seems the embodiment of the 1,000 yard stare and one can only wonder what his "after" picture would reveal.

As I write this we are several days into the Russian invasion of Ukraine and I find I just cannot watch it. My wife watches it, she works for D.O.D. and cannot seem to turn away, while I must. I wonder how many others of us feel the same?

I will ask, at the end of every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state from the lost at the left.

Next time, on the 10th, we will return to Kansas, so meet me there at 9:00am.

To see other memorials from Iowa, or any other state, please click on the stare name on the left side of this page.

Illinois XVI

So, even a different view of faces. In this Faces of Remembrance series I have tried to show the different looks I have seen given to the statues I've found as I travel. Last time I showed some faces of vets and others seen at the dedication of the memorial in Honolulu. 

Then while once again searching my photos I came across these faces. These are unusual as they are faces of lost vets, but from a happier time. I guess they might be from their Basic training graduations.

I found them when I visited Havana, Illinois to photograph the memorial there. Across the street from the park where the memorial is, there was a storefront. the guy that owned it filled the display window with patriotic stuff and the pictures of many of the soldiers whose names were engraved upon the stone across the street.

 

 

These photos were taken through the glass of the display window, so, perhaps not the very best. However, any effort to recognize and honor our brothers and sisters, I applaud.

I have asked the site for additional information about these guys and will update if I hear back from them.

I will ask, at the end of every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state from the lost at the left.

Next time, on March 5th, we will make a return trip to Iowa, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Illinois, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.

Hawai'i' VII

Lately, since I have not been able to travel as much as I would like, I have been featuring faces from some of the memorials I have captured.

I thought that maybe it would be interesting to show some of the actual faces I've seen on my travels.

As it happens Hawai'i' is the perfect place to do that. I was invited to the dedication of the Vietnam memorial at The Punchbowl in Honolulu and all of the following faces were seen there. Only a couple will require any comment from me.

Mary Jacobs is the creator of the memorial (which you can find more about here.)

This guy may not be a 'Nam vet but he did us honor by placing a wreath at the new memorial. Thank you!

I can't swear that all these others are 'Nam vets but they sure do look like us and they all came to help dedicated this beautiful memorial as it took its place among the other memorials high on this hill overlooking the Punchbowl where so may lie. 

Mary Jacobs designed the WWII, and Korean War memorials, already in place here, more than 40 years ago. This, however, was the first dedication she had been able to actually attend, she was almost 90 at the time.

I will ask, at the end of every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state from the lost at the left.

Next time, on the 28th, we will return to Illinois for additional Faces of Remembrance, join me there at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Hawai'i', or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Florida XXIV

Orlando, home of the "World's happiest place"(or something like that) is known by all. However, just a bit more than 20 miles NNE is a reminder that the world is not always happy, not always a place of fantasy.

On the north side of  Lake Baldwin is a veterans park and among the several memorials there is a a beautiful remembrance of our participation and partnership in the effort to help our Vietnamese allies.

I have written about this site before and you can find that post here.

Today, as I have been doing so often lately, I will share the faces of the two soldiers, one American and one Vietnamese, in the continuing Faces of Remembrance series.

 

 

I wonder if you see the same thing I see in these photos? I have noticed over the years that sometimes the artist will not focus on the actual face of the soldier depicted in a statue, but rather on some other feature or in an attempt to create an "everyman." Not often, but occasionally. (You will see that most clearly in a future post from Pennsylvania)

Look at the difference in these two faces. The detail in the American seems, to me, to be much greater than that of the Vietnamese soldier. At first I thought that it might be to some bias on the part of the sculptor, until I recalled that this is a memorial erected by a joint Vietnamese- American group, so that makes no sense at all. I wonder what is happening here, or am I just imagining the differences? Am I wrong?

The park may be found at 2380 Lake Baldwin Lane. 

Next time, on the 23rd, we will revisit Hawai'i' for something a little different, so join me there at 9:00am

I will ask, at the end of every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state from the lost at the left.

Reach me at the email listed on the left.

To see additional memorials from Florida, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.

Delware XX

These faces taken from the memorial in Brandywine Park in Wilmington, Delaware are of the African American soldier carrying his wounded Caucasian comrade.

The somewhat dazed look on his face is nearly overwhelming. To any of us who lost a buddy, and who didn't, the emotion is obvious and painful.

The wounded comrade is clearly in terrible pain and his fear is unmistakable.

58,279, at last count, were lost in Vietnam and many thousands more still live with the wounds, physical and mental, that the war left with us. For me, remembering and honoring these, our lost brothers and sisters, helps. I hope it does for you. too.

Next time, on the 18th, we will return to Florida for some "Faces" from Orlando, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

I will ask, at the end of every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know.

You can reach me at the email on the left side of this page.

To see additional memorials from Delaware, or any other state, please click on the state name also on the side of this page.

Connecticut XVIII

I found this small memorial on my way to Stamford, simply located at the side of a road in a small Veterans Park. Mounted upon a rock is a plaque. I have seen many like it in my travels and in my efforts to continue to find things to post that honor our brothers and sisters who served, I decided to see if I could pull out these "portraits" to add to the Faces of Remembrance series that I occasionally write about here. You notice, if you are one of those that follow along on this journey, that I am posting ever more of these as I comb through my files for new subjects.

Cropping photos out of larger one seems easy enough, but my software, far too often, just refuses to cooperate. I worked on pulling these faces out for far longer than I would have expected and while the results are usable, they are less that I had hoped for.

Regardless, they represent and honor those who served and/or were lost.

I think I see resignation on this face and perhaps just a little fear.

While this one seems a bit bemused, perhaps.

The plaque which you can find in a post elsewhere on this site has the following written on it.

Vietnam War 

The Trumbull Beautification Commission Dedicates This Park As A Living Memorial To The Men And Women Of Trumbull Who Served Their Country During The Vietnam War. 

 “Your Sacrifice Is Not Forgotten”. 

Nearby is an individual stone dedicated to David Rhodes who was killed in 1968, three days past his 21st birthday.

 Rest in Peace  

The park is located on White Plains Road just a little north of Brock Street in Trumbull.

I would ask that any reader who might have pics of Vietnam memorials not found on this site to send them to me. I will be happy to include them here and give the sender full credit. I would like to make this site as comprehensive as possible and my ability to travel to every site out there is limited, so, let me know what you have. You can contact me at the email on the left.  

Note: I had some issues getting this most recent post up and running and these threw off the timing of posts. So, the timing will be adjusted and I will make every effort to return to the every five days at 9:00am. schedule. 

Sorry for the confusion!

Next time, on the 13th, we will return to Delaware for a new "Faces of Remembrance," post, so meet me there at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Connecticut, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.

Arkansas VII

Just a quick one today. In searching through files (again) to find something new and hopefully of interest, I found these two shots to add to the Faces of Remembrance series.

The Arkansas Vietnam memorial is located on the grounds of the State capitol building in Little Rock and lists the over 600 names from the state that made the ultimate sacrifice.

They are represented by a statue of an infantry soldier watching over the site.

 As is so often the case, his eyes say it all.

Maybe I have just seen too many of these remarkable statues while pursuing this project (it has been more than 12 years now) but, I see not only the 1000 yard stare, but a bewilderment; too be sure from seeing too much himself.

Next time, on the 24th, we will revisit California. Join me there, as always, at 9:00am.to see additional memorials from Arkansas, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Alabama XVI

 I know that last time in West Virginia I promised that we would trek off to Alaska this time, but I decided to make a quick stop in Alabama first.

In keeping with my Faces of Remembrance series I thought I would share these first.

 

I've shared this guy in the past I think, he was one of the very first photos I ever shot on this journey. He stands before the memorial in Mobile Alabama. He is looking at all the names from the area that are honored here. An interesting note is that he is wearing an old army fatigue shirt and across the breast pocket it says, "it never ends." He represents us today as we age and comments on the reality of so many lives still in turmoil.

These next several faces come from a memorial just feet away from the guy above. It is a tribute to squads and the dogs that served with them. It is really small and the faces on each of these next heroes were no larger than my balled fist and I could not get close enough to get really close shots so they suffer some from the process of pulling them out of a larger photo.

 

 

So, while not postcard perfect photos, I think they still show the raw feelings of being on patrol.

Dedicated in 2008 it is actually called the War Dogs Memorial(and can be seen elsewhere on this site) and honors the thousands of dogs, of many varieties that served in Nam.

Next time, on the 27th, as promised before, we will venture back to Alaska, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Alabama, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.

Georgia XIX

Regular readers will know that from time to time I post about the faces I have seen forever cast in the memorials I visit. I call this subset of photos Faces of Remembrance and today I will share some taken from Roswell, Georgia.

The memorial here can be said to be nearly all faces. The soldier reaches out to the child, perhaps his daughter, while the myriad of faces behind him look on.

Here is the complete memorial called the Faces of War Memorial:

The faces:

 

The Soldier

 

The Child

 

Another Soldier 

                                           An unknown woman

                                             One more soldier

Close examination of this memorial reveals fifty faces of soldiers and others all impacted by the war. At another time I will attempt to isolate some of them and being them to you.

Next time, on the 11th, I hope to have a Veterans Day post. Please join me then, on the 11th, at 11am.

To see additional memorials from Georgia, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Georgia XVI

It surprised me to find that I had not posted these Faces of Remembrance pictures previously.

They are from the Georgia Vietnam Memorial found at the Pete Wheeler Georgia War Memorial Plaza adjacent to the Capitol building in Atlanta that I have featured elsewhere on this site.

The Faces of Remembrance effort on A Means to Heal is an attempt to tell our story through the eyes and faces of those depicted in the statues and memorials honoring them and our efforts in that far away place.

The faces, far too often, show fear, pain, disillusionment and sometimes a disconnection from humanity as seen, too often, in the Thousand Yard Stare.

So, what do we see here?

Here, perhaps, the acceptance that this is the price we pay.

The Nurse, I think, as seen far too much.

And, I know it is just a result of weathering, but this guy seems to be shedding a tear for his buddy or perhaps for us all.

Yeah, yeah, all of this is just my opinion and we all know what opinions are worth. Have a different view? Let me know in the comments section. I'd love to hear from you.

So, on the 14th we will take another trip to Idaho, so join me there at 9:00am.

To see other memorial from  Georgia, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.

Ohio IX

I am often astounded by how few Vietnam memorials actually feature  statues of our brothers and sisters.

There are some, of course, but far fewer that I would have expected, or perhaps, I have just not found them yet.

I have been writing in this sub-group, Faces of Remembrance for at least a few years now and am rapidly running out of these few and far between remembrances.

In Ohio, I actually have only seen one, in Masillion, that I will feature today.

Along with this one, I will include something I have never done before: a grieving wife (?) from the Clinton memorial.

Finally, I found this guy in Gallipolis at a multi-war memorial site. He is obviously not from the Vietnam era, but the look on his face, the thousand year stare, is universal, so I will honor him too.

So, as I have not found them, I ask you, challenge you, to send me ones in your town, city, or county. If they have not been featured here, I promise to give you a photo credit and if you provide info, I will credit you for that too. The least I need is location, and name if any. Please use the highest resolution your camera has and you can reach me by the email listed on the left side of this page.

Next time, on the 17th, we will revisit Pennsylvania, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Ohio, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.

PS, you are not limited to statues, any Vietnam memorial is fine, even if it is part of a multi-war site.

New York XX

Today, in keeping with my on-going subgroup, Faces of Remembrance, I will share the guys from the memorial in Troy, New York.

I was unable to determine if the three soldiers were modeled on actual people or not, but usually they are not to prevent legal issues later on, but it never hurts to look.

Not being artfully inclined in any way, I am always astounded at how much emotion, life, and reality these artist able to capture in the faces of these our brothers and sisters.

These three heroes along with the names of the 45 from the area who were lost may be found in River Front Park on the east side of the Hudson River in Troy.

Next time on the 17th, we will revisit Pennsylvania, so join me there at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from New York, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.