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.

SP4 Larry R. Creecy was a CH-47 Chinook helicopter mechanic serving with the 213th Assault Support Helicopter Company. In the early evening of April 5, 1968, SP4 Creecy was working a night shift at Phu Loi Base Camp in Binh Duong Province, RVN, when the base came under an enemy mortar attack. A total of fourteen rounds were fired, all of them impacting in the 213th maintenance area. One of the first rounds fired hit the CH-47 Creecy was working in. He was sitting on one of the folding seats attached to the side wall writing up the repairs he had just performed. The mortar round hit above and right behind him. Critically injured, he was able to make it outside the aircraft and collapsed on the steps going down. Seeing him laid out, a couple of the other mechanics left the protective cover of their bunker to assist Creecy. He was loaded into a jeep and taken to the base hospital where he succumbed shortly after. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Rich Goyea (April 2019)]

Dear Sp4 Larry Creecy,
Thank you for your service as an OH-13/OH-23 Helicopter Repairman with the 1st Cavalry. 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.

Larry,
This is to let you know that you have never, and never will, be forgotten.

Rest in peace, Brother.

SP/5 Tony Cina
213 ASHC, Phu Loi, VietNam

SP4 Larry R. Creecy was a helicopter mechanic with C Troop, 7th Squadron, 1st Cavalry, 1st Aviation Brigade. Nicknamed “Greasy” (a play off his last name Creecy), on the evening of April 4, 1968, SP4 Creecy was working on a helicopter when his air base came under mortar attack. The helicopter he was working in was hit by one of the first mortar rounds that fell. Wounded, SP4 Creecy was able to make it outside the aircraft on his own. He was loaded into a jeep bound for the base hospital where he later expired. [Taken from thewall-usa.com]