THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. That you were serving your second tour in Vietnam attests to your devotion to our country. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us.

Dear Msgt Dieter Dietz,
Thank you for your service. I do not know your MOS, but you served. Memorial Day is coming up, and we remember all you who gave their all. It has been too long, and it's about time 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.

Master Sergeant Dieter Walter Dietz, Served with the 388th Field Maintenance Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force.

On the evening of November 26, 1966, a Douglas U.S. Air Force C-47D (# 44-76574), a wing transport aircraft assigned to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat RTAFB, Thailand, departed from Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon on a nighttime administrative flight with 25 Air Force personnel headed to Korat Royal Thai AFB in Thailand. The C-47 made a normal take off and climbout. About five minutes after takeoff, the aircrew advised Tan Son Nhut they had an engine problem and were returning to that airfield. The pilot radioed radar control that he had a rough #1 engine. He received a vector course to steer. Shortly thereafter, the pilot reported he had to feather #1. Soon he reported the field in sight and was cleared for a straight in, downwind approach. Next he called the control tower reporting he could not get his landing gear fully down and locked. A witness later said only the left gear was down. This gear trouble undoubtedly added severely to his unsymmetrical drag and control problem. The tower first saw the plane turning slowly left away from the field at very low altitude, then stall, wing over and suddenly plunge to earth. Witnesses observed a steep, violent, crushing impact in a rice paddy followed instantly by a fierce fire. The time was about 1850 hours. Twenty-five airmen were lost in the crash, including CAPT Karl D. Sobolik, A2C Lawrence A. Barcklow, A2C Troy Bealin, A1C Hardy L. Bell, SMS Earl K. Burns Jr., MSGT Dieter W. Dietz, 1LT Charles L. Faulkner, 1LT Harold L. Graves, LTC Carroll G. Hogeman, CAPT John R. Humphrey, CAPT Edward L. Kerr, MSGT Marchelle R. Lanzone, MSGT William A. Lynch Jr., LTC Norman W. McRobie, A1C James E. Oxley, 1LT Adrian F. Purnell, 1LT Alden L. Riley, CWO Alan R. Steffen, SSGT Walter Suhar, MAJ Joe H. Trickey Jr., TSGT Jesse L. Waltman, CAPT James E. Webb, LTC Paul R. West, SSGT Bobby L. Williams, and SSGT Dennis P. Wright. [Taken from togetherweserved.com and aviation-safety.net]

You are loved by many. You are a perfect example of what America stands for. Land of the free home of the brave. Thank You I hope to meet you one day. Love Ashlee