THE WALL OF FACES

To a kind, loving soul: You died too young.

Raymond DiLorenzo is from Highland in New York State. This community is in the Town of Lloyd in Ulster County. He is listed as being from Edna Kansas. This is where his wife lived after he was sent to Vietnam.

Dear 1LT Raymond John Dilorenzo, 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, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

THE AIRCRAFT WITH CREW MEMBERS AC W1 RL LESONIK, P W1 TARRY T. O’REILLY (KIA), CE SP5 FRANK M. KAISER (KIA), AND G SP5 ALAN H. JOHNSON (KIA) WITH SEVERAL PASSENGERS INCLUDING 1LT RAYMOND J. DILORENZO (KIA) WAS ON A SUPPORT MISSION FOR MACV TEAM 42, BINH DINH PROVINCE, RVN, APO 96238. THE MISSION CARRIED THEM FROM QUIN NHON TO VINH QUANG WHERE THEY MADE A STOP TO OFF LOAD A DECEASED PERSON. THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO TUY PHUOC ON THE SECOND LEG OF THE MISSION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRAVELING AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 200-300 FEET AGL AT AN UNDETERMINED AIRSPEED. IT WAS HEADED IN A NORTH WESTERLY DIRECTION WHEN WITNESSES NOTICED THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT PITCH UP AND THEN THE AIRCRAFT MADE A DESCENDING LEFT TURN AS THOUGH IN AUTOROTATION. A CLANKING OR LOUD RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE AIRCRAFT, SMOKE OR FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE COWLING BELOW THE SWASH PLATE ASSEMBLY JUST BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT MADE A LEFT DESCENDING TURN. THIS TURN TO THE AIRCRAFT'S FINAL HEADING OF 150 PLACED THE AIRCRAFT IN A DOWNWIND LANDING SITUATION. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED WITH EXCESSIVE FORWARD AIRSPEED, STRUCK THE GROUND RIGHT SKID FIRST. AFTER IMPACT IT TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET BEFORE STRIKING A 2 FOOT BY A 2 FOOT DIKE. IT THEN TRAVELED 25 FEET MORE WHERE IT STRUCK A 4 FOOT HIGH BANK AND BURST INTO FLAMES. AT THIS POINT THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN COMING APART AND THE ROTOR ASSEMBLY SEPARATED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 110 FEET THROUGH THE AIR BEFORE IMPACTING AGAIN. FROM THIS POINT THE FUSELAGE SLID AND TUMBLED ANOTHER 90 FEET WHERE IT CAME TO REST AND BURNED. [Taken from vhpa.org]

Ray is buried at North Edna Cemetery in Edna,KS. BSM PH