THE WALL OF FACES

I was flying with B Troop,2/17, when I heard of Danny's death. Danny and his wife were friends of my wife and myself stateside. I still carry and always will carry wonderful memories of him.I know he is with our Lord in Heaven.

Dear Lt Danny Cowan,
Thank you for your service as an Armored Reconnaissance Unit Commander - General Staff. It is so important for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Danny Cowan and I were members of the Second Squad, 9th Battalion, Infantry OCS, Ft. Benning Georgia. We graduated in September 1969. Danny always has an easy way about him, always smiling, and was a good leaders. He was eager to go to flight training and members of the squad both proud of his acceptance and wished him well. Not long after arriving in Vietnam in September of 1971, I learned of Danny's passing. My heart was sick. We had lost several in our class, but since Danny was a friend it hit hard. As of this writing in 2016, I think of him often. Rest in peace my friend.

Dear 1LT Danny Allen Cowan, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

There are two accounts of this incident: First Account - On October 22, 1971, pilot CAPT Maurice E. Garrett Jr. and co-pilotgunner 1LT Danny A. Cowan were aboard an AH1G helicopter (serial #67-15752) as part of a 'Hunter-Killer' team consisting of two AH1G helicopters, one OH6A and one UH1H. The team departed Quang Tri and proceeded west on an armed visual reconnaissance mission. CAPT Garrett instructed the flight to hold on the eastern side of a ridge line while he continued westward into a valley to check weather that appeared marginal for team operations. About one minute after entering the valley, Garrett reported the weather to be about 200 feet overcast, and continued his weather assessment flight. About 5 minutes from the time he was last seen, Garrett reported that he was in the cloud and would return to Quang Tri on instruments. He gave instructions for the rest of the flight to stay clear of his intended flight path. Shortly afterwards, the aircraft apparently struck trees and continued for a short distance before crashing. The aircraft impacted and exploded with such force that the only large identifiable aircraft part that was found was a vertical fin with part of the serial number. Some parts of the cockpit section could be identified, but all were badly burned, smashed and scattered by the explosion. 1LT Cowan's remains were found after a ground search was conducted of the area. As no trace of CAPT Garrett was found, it was determined that he was killed in the crash, and his body completely destroyed upon impact and explosion. Second Account - On the morning of 22 October 1971, aircraft 67-15752 was part of a hunter-killer team consisting of two AH-1G's, one UH-1H, and one OH-6A. The mission was visual reconnaissance in the northwest part of military region one. The team departed Phu Bai, Republic of Vietnam, at approximately 0715 hours, and proceeded to Quang Tri to refuel. Shortly before 0800 hours, the team departed Quang Tri enroute to Fire Base Holcomb. Upon reaching the first ridgeline west of Quang Tri, the weather was determined to be marginal. The team leader CPT Garrett instructed the team to hold on the 230 degree bearing from the Quang Tri non-directional beacon at 1,500 feet, and he proceeded into the Ba Long Valley for further investigation of the weather. He entered the Ba Long Valley between hill 660 and Fire Base Holcomb, and visual contact was lost at 0812 hours between himself and the rest of the team. At approximately 0813 hours he gave a pilot report of 200 feet and 1,700 feet overcast. At 0815 hours he reported Calu was under rain showers and unworkable. At 0816 hours he informed the team that he was returning. At 0818 hours he told the team to continue holding over the flatlands at 1,500 feet, and that he was IFR and was tracking inbound to the Quang Tri beacon on a 065 degree heading at 2,800 feet. That was the last transmission received from the aircraft. The aircraft subsequently crashed and burned and was missing until 1145 hours on 25 October 1971. The aircraft was found in a ravine that was vegetated by single and double canopy jungle. The wreckage was scattered over an area approximately 300 meters long by 50 meters wide. A team of infantry was inserted into the crash site on 25 October 1971 to search for the crew. Upon insertion, the team found the aircraft completely demolished; the largest part of the aircraft remaining intact was the vertical stabilizer. The rest of the aircraft was torn into pieces no larger than eight by ten inches scattered over an area approximately 300 meters long by 50 meters wide. The body found by the infantry team was badly mangled with other unidentifiable pieces of flesh scattered throughout the area in a state of decomposition. The body recovered by the team subsequently proved to be that of 1LT Danny A. Cowan, the pilot-gunner. To date, the body of CPT Maurice E. Garrett, the Aircraft Commander, has not been found. The accident occurred at grid coordinates YD033383, approximately thirty-five kilometers southwest of Quang Tri Combat Base. [Taken from vhpa.org]