THE WALL OF FACES

Dear CWO James Crockett,
Thank you for your service as an Aircraft Repair Technician, Rotary Wing Rotor - Helicopter Pilot 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.

My name is Thomas Brownlee and I’m a Vietnam War Veteran.

I was drafted into the Army February 28,, 1967. I received orders at Fort Lee, VA sometime in July 1967 to serve in Vietnam from August 8, 1967 to August 8, 1968. We flew into Vietnam at night on August 8, 1967 into Bien Hoa, and three days later we moved to An Khe.

It was the home of the 1st Calvary Division in the Central Highlands. I was in Company D 15th TC. The main mission of our company was to repair helicopters during the war and we repaired them for the 227th. My job was repairing field stoves.

I used to see Crockett in the chow line and up on the flight deck. I used to go up to the flight deck to go on helicopter test rides to help break up the monotony.

After being in An Khe after 5 months or so, we received orders to leave. They made a lot of trips… we had to take all of our belongings, our weapons. We loaded it all into helicopters. They moved us up to Camp Evans. There was nothing there but a barbed wire perimeter around the place. I personally had to dig holes, 6 feet deep. I only got down to 4 feet deep. They worked us 18 hours/day. The Company Commander said there was no play, and that this was the “real thing.”

I woke up early one morning April 24, 1968. I looked left, then right, then down a path. I saw 6 helmets lined up, rifles sticking up underneath them. Combat boots were down below that. I realized something was brewing, something was going on. They called a formation. Our Company Commander was a light colonel, a short, rough mean guy. He was firm. He said “we lost 6 men.” He named off the men, starting with the pilot, James Crockett, then second he mentioned Ronald Oglesby. James Rainbow, Thomas J Davis, William V Musceen, Civ Prigan we all called too. Crockett died on April 23rd, 1968 in a helicopter crash. The Company Commander told us under no circumstances were we to write home and tell our parents what happened, and if we did, we would be subject to Court Marshall. He told us that this matter would be taken care of through Army channels.

This all happened on April 23rd and 24th. Three days prior to this, James Robinson left camp to return home. Two or three days after the crash, probably April 26th, they came to me and told me “It’s your time to fly. You gotta get up and go.“ I told them “I don’t want to fly no more in those helicopters.” I didn’t want to fly anymore.

They wanted me to fly to Cameron Bay (when Soldiers get ready to leave Vietnam, they go there 10 days). They told me “I want you to go there and James Robinson will be there. You’ve got to go there and find Robinson and you have to tell Robinson what happened.” I said “Ok, I’ll do it, I’ll fly.”

I made a safe flight and I looked for James Robinson. He was walking down a path and I spotted him. I called his name and said “I gotta see you. I come to tell you Oglesby is gone.” He said “What do you mean gone. I don’t understand.” I told Robinson that Oglesby was killed in a helicopter crash. He said “Who was on that copter.” I told him : “Crocket, he was the pilot.” He screamed and he hollered, he said he knew everyone on that copter. He screamed and hollered like I never heard. He cried so… He named them all. He thanked me in the end for coming to see him and telling him, and he shook my hand. He walked off and went one way, and I about face and went the other way. I had to go back on the copter and fly…. I had to fly, seeing all of the patchwork, the rice fields and the patties, and I made a safe trip back.

I have visited the wall in DC with my family and I searched for these 6 comrades. When I go to that wall… it’s emotional. To Crocket, you are an American Hero, not me. I’m not the Hero. God In Heaven please take this message to James and his family. I think of him often. When I get to heaven I’d like to see him and shake his hand and tell him thank you and I’m sorry. May God always be with you. You will never be forgotten. I hope your legacy lives on forever. Rest in peace, comrade.

Thomas E. Brownlee
U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran