Francis Kaufman
A Thanksgiving Tribute and an account of my visit to THE WALL
As the anniversary of your death nears, I felt a need to add another tribute. When I discovered this site, I sought out names of those I knew. I then started adding remembrances to those who had none. By chance I discovered yours, William, and upon entering your site saw, "no entry has been made for this hero". I read your Medal Of Honor citation with a deep appreciation of your ultimate sacrifice. I then read your entry in the book titled, "Vietnam Medal Of Honor Heroes, by Edward F. Murphy. I was then overwhelmed by your Vietnam experience. Your brothers in arms did all they could for you after what you did for them. Your wounds were shattering, but, your will to survive sustained you until your strength was spent. Your capture by the enemy was probably passed up their chain of command, and, apparently, some effort was made to help you, not so much that they cared, but the enemy knew captured Americans would be a powerful bargainer in future negotiations. You finally succumbed to your wounds, utterly alone and so far from home and family. I stopped at "THE WALL" enroute to visit family in North Carolina. A fresh layer of snow had fell on Washington. I don't really recall any other visitors at the memorial other than my wife and a Park Ranger who was diligently shoveling snow in front of the imposing monument. I found your name on Panel 34E, Line 39, as I ran my finger across your name the Park Ranger stopped his chore sensing I wanted quiet while I said a prayer to you and your family hoping they are well and you are home with the Lord. As I walked away, my wife, who had kept a respectful distance while I sought out your name, whispered to me, "I't was not in your fate to serve, but, at least one brave American is not forgotten." May you be resting in peace, William, you will never ever be forgotten. Thanksgiving 2003.
Wednesday, November 26, 2003 |
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Francis Kaufman
In REMEMBERANCE of your HEROISM today, FLAG DAY 2003. As I poled OUR FLAG today I thought and prayed for the BRAVE Men and Women who have SERVED, are SERVING and will SERVE. Their HERIOCS, like yours, will never be FORGOTTEN and always REMEMBERED.
Saturday, June 14, 2003 |
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Francis Kaufman
Here is William's entry in the book titled "Vietnam Medal of Honor Heroes" by Edward F. Murphy. A divorce sent William D. Port of Petersburg, Pennsylvania to Vietnan. The draft wouldn't touch you if you were married and had children. As it was, Port's ex-wife got their two children and the Army got Bill Port. He was inducted in March of 1967, six months short of his twenty-sixth birthday. Following basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, Port went to Vietnam and Company C, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. On January 12, 1968, Port's company battled superior enemy forces in the Que Son Valley of Quang Tin Province. His platoon gave ground under heavy fire. Although wounded in the hand during this movement, Port still helped a more seriously wounded soldier to safety. Later, huddled together with three other casualties, Port saved their lives by covering an enemy grenade with his own body, sustaining severe injuries in the head, chest, arms, and legs. For two-and-one-half hours the platoon medic worked on Port, but then the VC forced the platoon to retreat. Port, whom the medic reported as dead, was left behind. When the platoon retook the area his body could not be found. The Army carried him as missing in action for four months before changing his status to presumed dead. But Port was not dead. Grievously wounded but still alive, Port had been taken prisoner by the VC. They treated him at their field hospital for a month before releasing him to a POW camp deep in the jungle. Never fully recovered from his shattering wounds, Port languished in the primitive camp for ten months before he died on November 27, 1968. In December 1969 the Army listed Port as dead and notified his family for the first time that he had been held prisoner. Not until the POWs came home in 1973 were full details of Port's death and burial in the jungle reported to the family. In the meantime, Port's posthumous Medal of Honor was approved and presented to his son and daughter by President Nixon on August 6, 1970. As the years passed the family gave up hope that Port's remains would be found. Then, in August 1985, a team of American investigators, working with a more liberal Vietnamese government, was led to a common gravesite holding the remains of nine American POWs. In October of that year Port's remains were positively identified as on of the nine. Following funeral services in his hometown, William D. Port was interred in Arlington National Cemetery. He was the last Medal of Honor hero to come home from Vietnam.
Monday, August 18, 2003 |
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Francis Kaufman
Just a few words to HONOR your MEMORY and BRAVERY today for the day you made the SUPREME SACRIFICE for which you were awarded THE MEDAL OF HONOR on November 27th 1968. Your COURAGE, DEDICATION and UTMOST BRAVERY will never be FORGOTTEN.
Monday, January 27, 2003 |
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Jim McIlhenney
You are not forgotten.
Saturday, January 21, 2006 |
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Jackie Taylor
~Grateful American~
You, Sir, Have Not Been Forgotten!
http://www.geocities.com/rememberance004
During my visit to The Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington DC I searched and, found the names of my friends, classmates, neighbors etched into the smooth, black face of the Wall, an extraordinary outpouring of emotion became so strong. I was so overwhelmed with sorrow and pain that I could not hold back the tears for those heroes and their families who lost so much. Though my visit to the Wall was a few years ago, I feel that I left a piece of my heart there. To honor those who died in the Vietnam War and to say thank youàI created a small tribute to those heroes. Please click on the link above to view memorial website.
Monday, February 20, 2006 |
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