THE WALL OF FACES

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed...
We feel lucky to have seen it.

Corporal James Adolph Craft, Served with the 3rd Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division.

Dear CPL James Craft,
Thank you for your service as an Infantryman. It is Presidents' Weekend, and good time to remember those who serve. 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.

You had just arrived in country and we spent several days together until you were assigned to 3rd platoon and sent out to the field. The day your chopper went down I had drawn clean clothes from Supply. The shirt I pulled out of the Heap of jungle fatigues was one which you had turned in and which still had your name tag on it. There was no way I could have known that later that day, wearing your shirt, I would be identifying your body at graves registration. To this day, I still think of you often brother.

On March 1, 1969, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D (tail number 65-10020) from the 174th Assault Helicopter Company was operating in in Quang Ngai Province, about 5 miles southwest of Mo Duc. The aircraft, piloted by WO1 Edward L. Harris and WO1 Ray R. Davis, was flying 1/20 Infantry Battalion Command and Control. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was being used to exchange personnel on an observation post (o.p.). The aircraft had been into the location on one previous personnel drop-off and was returning with the remainder of personnel and equipment. On the first drop off at the o.p. the approach was made to the southeast which put the aircraft into the wind, and no apparent problems were reported. On the second lift onto the o.p., the approach was started to the northwest, which put the aircraft downwind. The approach was apparently overshot by whoever had control of the aircraft at the time. The pilot in control of the aircraft apparently tried to make a pedal turn to get back on the o.p. At this time it is assumed that the aircraft lost power and began losing altitude. Approximately 50 meters down the hill the main rotor struck the ground. Slightly further down the main fuselage made impact and started to break apart. A fire erupted in the main portion of the aircraft which completely consumed the helicopter. The crash killed the entire crew of the helicopter, consisting of the aircraft commander WO1 Davis, pilot WO1 Harris, crew chief SP4 Donn P. Zarina, and gunner PFC David E. Schulze. The crash also took the lives of five passengers, including SGT Rodney M. Goode, SP4 Jimmy R. Gross, CPL David E. Lovegren, SP4 Thomas L. Gaines, and CPL James A. Craft. Two passengers survived the wreck and were removed by medevac shortly afterwards for medical treatment. During the recovery operation, CPL Lovegren's body was being hoisted onboard the extraction helicopter when the lifting device dropped his remains about 1,000 meters from the extraction point. An effort was made to relocate and recover Lovegren's body, but hostile forces were in the loss area, and CPL Lovegren could not be recovered. CPL David E. Lovegren is listed with honor among the missing because his body has never been returned to his homeland for burial. [Taken from vhpa.org and pownetwork.org]