THE WALL OF FACES

Colonel, in 1967 I was the twenty year old son of an Air Force Colonel who had served in WWll, Korea
was in the air during the missle crisis. He retired 31 December, 1967. Two years later I sent off for a bracelet
as a donation for the wives going to Paris as I recall, for the Peace Meetings. I received your bracelet. I was
a little shaken by the fact you were in the Air Force, but other than that I just wore it. I wore it until
August 1987. I finally put it in my shave kit. For the next three years I bounced around the SF Bay area, a confirmed
alcoholic. Living in the streets, having lost a family, a career and nearly my life. In the year 2001 I have ten years sobriety,
a new wife and family. The only two things I own from Pre 1987 are the Bible my dad carried in his flight suit while flying
B-17's over Germany, and your bracelet. They became the most important belongings I owned.
In 1993, I visited the wall and left the barcelet only to be told by one of the Vets working there that because you were still MIA
I should take it back and wait. Then forward it to the family. And now that I have found out that you are home, I will
do that. Over the years you have become as much as a part of my family and it will be hard to give up that bracelet, but I want to
finish the circle. My total respect to you sir amd my heartfelt condolences and love to your family. I too, have a daughter named Andrea.
John L. Griffiths, San Jose, CA

If I should die, and leave you here awhile, be not like others, sore undone, who keep long vigils by the silent dust, and weep...for MY sake, turn again to life, and smile...Nerving thy heart and trembling hand to do something to comfort other hearts than thine...Complete these dear, unfinished tasks of mine...and I, perchance, may therein comfort you.

I knew then Major Ivan Appleby when I was with the 8th TFW at Ubon, Thailand. I was a target briefer and occasionally a debriefer. I worked closely with all air crews that flew to Hanoi and the Red River Valley. Maj. Appleby was one of my favorites because he was always in a good mood. The first time I met him, he had 3 or 4 pairs of sunglasses around his neck; each one a different lens color. I asked him why the different colors. He said, and this is almost verbatum..." You tell me what kind of AAA I am going to encounter each day. Different colored lenses filter out the smoke and flash of the AAA. If I didn't filter out the flak and saw it all ahead of me, there would be so many tears in my eyes, I couldn't see to fly."
We both laughed about that one...but now that I look back, I think he was almost serious. Each man had his own way of dealing with the stress of flying into the most heavily defended area since Germany in WWII. These brave me flew into that hell as though they were just going to the office. Ivan Appleby was one of the brave ones. I still mourn his loss. He was not only a great pilot, but my friend.

From A 1995 Press Report:

The remains of a Vietnam War-era pilot whose F-4 fighter crashed into the North Vietnamese jungle 28 years ago have been found, identified and returned to the United States, according to his widow. Air Force Maj Ivan D.Appleby and his navigator, William Austin, were on a combat mission October 7, 1967, when a surface-to-air missile blasted their fighter plane.

Austin was able to eject safely and was captured. Appleby's remains were returned to the United States at the end of last month.

"There's going to be a ceremony December 8, 1995 at Arlington National Cemetery, and my children and I will be going there for that," Shirley Appleby
said Thursday. The Applebys' children - Bonnie, Jay and Andrea - were 11, 10
and 8, respectively, when the family was told that their father's plane had been
shot down.