06 June 1999 Gary Diaz was my dad's best friend his entire life. My brother was named after him. My whole family thinks of Gary and his sacrifice constantly. My dad can't even watch war movies without crying and neither can I because of the loss. I have never been to the wall in D.C., but I have been to the Moving Wall when it came to California. I like the privacy of this much better. I was with my dad when I saw the Moving Wall, so I felt that I had to be strong for him. Seeing Gary's name a few minutes ago, I was able to cry all I wanted because I was in the privacy of my own home. I never met Gary. He died before I was born, but he has always been on my mind and his family in my prayers. He had a younger brother who was born with a grave disease and wasn't expected to live past the age of two. I believe he lived to be twelve, but with the loss of Gary and his brother, his parents now have no one to carry on their family's name. I feel very privileged to have met them and spent some time with them over the years. It was a tribute to Gary that my younger brother carries his first and middle names, but I ask you to please remember Gary Michael Diaz. There is no family member to carry on the name; but hopefully, our memories will carry Gary and the many others into the next millennium. I write this mainly for my father Gregory Lynn Beard. His memories are fresh and his loss is great. I know that he would write this page for Gary if he could, but it is all still to painful for him emotionally. I love you, Dad. I wish I could have known your best friend. I know he was like a brother to you, and I know I would have loved him. May his memory live on forever. I would like other people to be able to leave messages on Gary's memorial page if they wish. Kari janetvilay@aol.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry, lost eleven men killed in an action in the vicinity of Thon Que Chu, Thua Thien Province, on 04 February 1968. Because they were required to conduct a night march through enemy-held terrain the battalion was unable to bring out their dead at the time, but the bodies were later recovered. A twelth man died two days later of wounds received. The twelve men were B Co, 2nd Bn, 12th Cavalry: SSG Curtis R. Patton, Eastville, VA (Silver Star) CPL Gary O. Holsinger, New Boston, OH (Silver Star) CPL Bruce N. Knox, Madison, WI SP4 Curtis D. Scowden, St Louis, MO (DoW 02/06/1968) C Co, 2nd Bn, 12th Cavalry: SGT Henry E. Casias, Trinidad, CO CPL August H. Genzler, St Louis, MO CPL Charles H. Graham, West Memphis, AR D Co, 2nd Bn, 12th Cavalry: SGT Robert E. Hopkins, Willimantic, CT SGT Russell E. Kephart, Lewistown, PA SGT Thomas W. Loos, Perryville, MO (Silver Star) CPL Gary M. Diaz, Redondo Beach, CA (Silver Star) C Btry, 1st Bn, 77th Artillery: CPL Larry J. Blankenship, Midfield, AL (with Bravo 1/12)

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