31 Jul 2007 This has been a long time coming. William Davis (Sonny) was one of my best friends through school. He was always there for everyone, he never had a mean or unkind word for anyone. I surprised me when he joined the Marines. Not because I thought he could not do it, only because he was such a caring person. I guess he cared a great deal because he left us to serve his country and I believe that he served it well. William was a great all around kid. I still have the scars on my right wrist because William and I picked up some beautifully colored glass and as we looked at it he made the mistake of cutting me. I remember he begged me not to tell. I did not tell because I knew he would never do anything to hurt me. He was the one who held my hand and talked me through so many things expecially when my dad died. A few days before he was to leave to go into the service he came to my house to visit with me and my mom. We walked around the old neighborhood and laughed about all the things we did, the fun we had and the friendship we shared. I knew in my heart he was not coming back. One of the saddest things I ever did was to say goodbye to my friend knowing that he was not comming back. The strange thing is the day he died I had a dream of him calling me and I remember seeing him laying on the ground, I walked over to him, kneeled down beside him and held his hand. I remember my mother waking me and telling me that he was gone. I already knew. I have lost a lot of people in my life, but he was one of the most important people. I will never stop missing him, I will never stop loving him. I often wonder what it would have been like to see him get married, and to have children? I often wonder what he would have done when he left the service? He missed out on so many things in life. People always complain about the waste of this war, maybe that might be true. But they do not think about the lives that were lost and the families that suffered that loss. We would be sixty years old next year and I plan to have a birthday party for him and I. Both his parents are gone now and he had no siblings to my knowledge, no wife, no children, just friends. I am not even sure where all our friends are now. I moved away from home a few years ago. I just know that if I could have one more moment with him I would cherish it. However, I cherish all the time we had together. I love you, Bubbles. The Braddock Park Crew PS. Someone posted that they found his dog tags, I would like to have them if no one has claimed them. Dr. Donia Gonzales Copeland (Dee Dee) From a friend, Dr. Donia Gonzales Copeland P O Box 371, Delaware City, Delaware 19706 renewalof48@yahoo.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The 1/9 Marines headquarters at Con Thien was situated on a 160-meter high hill, one of three hills forming a ridgeline that paralleled the Demilitarized Zone just to the north. In early July 1967 heavy fighting was the norm in the valley between Con Thien and the DMZ, and the headquarters location was subject to constant rocket and artillery fire from NVA positions in and north of the DMZ. On 7 July, while elements from 1/9, 2/9, 3/9, and 1/3 Marines were heavily engaged below the hill, the Marines on Con Thien lost 15 men to enemy artillery fire: 1stLt Gatlin J. Howell, Colma, CA (Navy Cross) MSgt Robert C. Dambeck, Altoona, PA SSgt Glendon L. Waters, Dallas, TX Sgt Joel Williams, Little Rock, AR Cpl Kenneth B. Kooser, Connellsville, PA Cpl Peter Moskos, East Bridgewater, MA Cpl Glenn R. Ogburn, Shreveport, LA Cpl Michael B. Smith, Fairfield, CA LCpl Richard R. Davis, Nahant, MA LCpl John H. Ferril, Rockville Centre, NY LCpl Richard H. Lopez, Los Angeles, CA LCpl Andrew C. Rabaiotti, East Boston, MA LCpl Joseph R. Riebli, Port Orchard, WA Pfc William W. Davis, Boston, MA Pfc Thomas R. Walsh, Baldwinsville, NY

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