THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. We should be forever thankful for the sacrifices of you and so many others to ensure the freedoms we so often take for granted.

LT Donald Vol Hester Jr. is considered buried at sea.

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Semper Fortis

Dear Lt Donald Hester, Thank you for your service as an Unrestricted Line Officer (Pilot) on the U.S.S. TICONDEROGA. Yesterday was Memorial Day when we honor you. I could not post because the system was overwhelmed. Please watch over the USA, it still needs your courage. Rest in peace with the angels.

Lieutenant Donald Vol Hester Jr., Served with Attack Squadron 56 (VA-56), Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5), USS Ticonderoga, Task Group 77.5 (TG 77.5), Task Force 77 (TF-77), 7th Fleet.

U.S. Navy Lieutenant Donald Vol Hester, Jr., originally from California, was an Unrestricted Line Officer (Pilot) assigned to Attack Squadron 56 (VA-56), Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5), USS Ticonderoga, Task Group 77.5, Task Force 77, 7th Fleet. On September 6, 1964, the USS Ticonderoga was steaming towards Japan after finishing its role launching attacks on North Vietnamese motor torpedo boat bases earlier in August. Somewhere between Iwo Jima Island and mainland Japan, at approximately 8:00 PM, Lt. Hester’s A-4E Skyhawk aircraft was launched by deck catapult and crashed into the water soon after take-off. According to the deck log for that night, search and rescue operations were commenced immediately and continued for approximately 3 hours before the Task Group formed a column at double the standard distance and continued steaming towards Japan. Lt. Hester and his aircraft were never found and he was declared lost at sea. Lt. Hester was married and 27 years old when he died.

[Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]