RAYMOND MONTELL CARLEY
REMEMBERED
1966
by Ranger Jerry Conners,
Chinese Bandit Recon 1st Bn (ABN) 8th Cav, 1965-1966

face down crawling
the pain does not matter anymore
they can not help me,
Don't try he yells
to those nearby
must it end

the ground is warm,
the smell of the earth
the fallen leaves in hand
engulfed in the sounds of withering fire
touched twice again
he grimaces and smiles
through gritted teeth
alone without strength
must it end,

colder now
shaking
unable to breathe
or tear the collar too close
about his neck,
struggling frantically
to hold on
numb now,
through squinted eyes some light,
soaked in blood
fingers slowly grasping emptiness,
swaying in the arms of death
let there be more.

RAYMOND MONTELL CARLEY

PFC - E3 - Army - Regular
1st Cav Division (AMBL)
Length of service 1 years
His tour began on Aug 20, 1965
Casualty was on Jun 23, 1966
In , SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Panel 08E - Line 82

Note:  Raymond Carley was killed on June 23, 1966 during the Battle of Trung Loung where the Chinese Bandits were awarded their 2d Presidential Unit Citation during the period 1965-1966…the first was awarded for participation in the Battle of Ia Drang in November 1965.   More information on the Chinese Bandits can be obtained at http://www.geocities.com/d6566mustangs/

Jerry Conners