You may know them. They could have been a neighbor growing up or a classmate in school. Somewhere in a photo album or old shoebox, you may have a photo of them.There are 1,295 people from Tennessee whose names are inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial – ‘The Wall’ – in Washington, DC, yet photos of only 596 have been found. This means there are still 699 faceless names whose stories have yet to be told. Forty-five of these brave service members were from Chattanooga.
You can help find the faces of the fallen and put a photo with the name of each of those who gave “the last full measure of devotion” in service to their country in Vietnam.These photos will become part of the soon to be built Education Center at The Wall that will be located between The Wall and the Lincoln Memorial.The Education Center will be a place where visitors will be able to remember those 58,300 men and women who died in Vietnam for what they were -- living, breathing human beings, not just names carved into black granite.The Education Center will display some of the more than 100,000 items that loved ones have placed at The Wall over the last three decades -- some touching, some funny, all deeply personal.
Photos can be scanned and submitted online to www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces or mailed to The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Attn: Call for Photos, 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 104, Washington, DC 20037. Please send a copy of the original photo. VVMF does not want original photos and cannot be responsible for returning photos.
Here is a list of the missing photos from Chattanooga.Air Force: Arthur E Norman and James T Gray,Army: Bruce E Armstrong, Carlton Ross, Charles E Smith Jr, Charles J Swint, Clifton Tanksley, Emanuel Jones Jr, George W Martin, Glenn H Kelley, Harold C Hedden Jr, Homer L Medley, James F Watson, Jessie J Garth, Jimmy R Griffin, John M Mizelle, John R Prince, Manuela A Hicks Jr, Randall Hixson, Raphnell J Meroney, Rayfon Lofton, Raymond G Clark, Robert E Hamilton, Robert E Poe, Robert Looney, Thomas W Matthews Jr, Tomas C Tucker, Virgil Kirkland Jr, Wade L Broome, Will L Fowler and Willie SheltonMarine Corps: Billy J Bennett, Franklin D Ratliff, Fred S Lea, George A Essary, Haywood W Tipsy Jr, Jerry L Bell, John H Walker Jr, Johnnie L Vaught Jr, Robert T McJunkin, Ronald L Wright, Thomas C Tucker, Tommy L Taylor, William H Pless and William L Pemberton.
Dr. Mark Green, M.D., is a member of the Tennessee State Senate representing the 22d Senate District (Clarksville)