REDCATCHERS

RED CATCHER WARRIORS
5TH BATTALION 12TH INFANTRY
199TH LIGHT INFANTRY BRIGADE

This is a monument put up at the cemetary after the last visit.2002

I sure did like spending the day with vets and all the others searching for names on the wall. It would surprise you the number of younger people that would call there parents and ask for names of relatives or friends on the wall. I think everyone in this country has a relative or classmate or friend on the Wall. The stories I heard and the emotions shown touched my heart. I shed a tear or two with some of our brothers as they saw a name and were overcome. One man in perticular touched my heart deeply, he was holding his grandson who was about 3 mos. old, and he allmost feel apart. I told him it was ok, the first time to the wall is the hardest. He said he didn't think things would come flooding back as they did. I told him it was ok we all need to remember and let it go. As I watched him and his wife, I found myself crying with them. All in all I did well, as you watch people see names for the first time in 30 odd years, it has to touch your heart. I had one young Air Force vol. that shared June 2nd with and showed the names, I also showed him Capt. Miller. I thanked him for his time on a week end to help and also for showing interest in an old vet. He said it was an honor to be allowed to do it and thanked me for what we had did. Well I could go on for ever, it was such a good experience and as the kid said; an honor to listen to and help vets find the names they were searching for. I hope they all came away with the great feeling I did. (Ray)