Inevitably, errors were made when the names of our Vietnam dead were compiled in preparation for the construction of the Wall. Some men who shouldn't be on the Wall were, while others who should have been were not. Names that should not have been on the Wall were corrected by deleting the names from the Directory, but those names remain on the Wall itself (you can't "unengrave" granite). Over the years names have been added - some for men who died of wounds received, some for men whose names were missed in the original compilation.
 
However, even today there are men whose names rightfully should appear on the Wall but who are not there. Where possible, The Virtual Wall staff have documented these deaths, reported the omissions to the Department of Defense, and have placed them in a special index; they are the men who are