THE WALL OF FACES

Chief Warrant Officer Thomas William Damm, Served with Battery A, 4th Battalion, 77th Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.

On July 7, 1970, a U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail (number 68-15136) from A Battery (Dragons), 4th Howitzer Battalion, 77th Aerial Rocket Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, crashed during night aerial rocket artillery (ARA) mission possibly due to vertigo or target fixation. Both crewmen were fatally injured in the crash. The lost crewmen included CW2 Thomas W. Damm and 1LT Thomas D. Gillaspy. The aircraft was flying in support of ground troops west of Firebase Brick when the aircraft hit the ground while engaging enemy forces. When asked what he witnessed, the wingman reported, "He just flew it into the ground." CW2 Damm was originally assigned to B Battery, 4/77th ARA. After a few months he requested to be grounded for personal reasons. He was then transferred to A Battery where he was doing administrative work for a while. After a month or so he was needed back in the cockpit and started flying combat missions again. It was only after one or two missions back on flight status that he went out on this night mission. [Taken from vhpa.org, vvmf.org, and firemission.s5.com]

Dear CWO Thomas William Damm, 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, Sir

Curt Carter

Photo

Tom is buried at Estabrooks Cemetery, 2nd to the last west center section, left side, 5th row, 16th column in from the left side, under a large cedar bush.