THE WALL OF FACES

Machinist's Mate Petty Officer Third Class David L. Dixon and Fireman David P. Halpin were assigned to the Naval Support Activity Da Nang, Support Detachment, Cua Viet, South Vietnam. On September 28, 1968 at approximately 2:00 p.m., at the Naval Support Activity Detachment, Cua Viet, South Vietnam, Dixon and Halpin were working on a boat which was tied up to a barge from which contaminated fuel was being pumped. Fireman Halpin was working onboard the boat. Petty Officer Dixon and two other crewmembers were working in the engine room. A shipfitter, unaware of the fuel being pumped, came to complete a welding job which had been started earlier that day on another boat. Almost instantly after the shipfitter struck an arc with his welder, the fuel fumes near where the fuel was being pumped into the water ignited. Flames engulfed the entire waterfront. One sailor in the engine room on the LCM-6 escaped, stating later that after he left the boat, he returned to the engine room to see if anyone might still be there. At the moment he returned, there was no fire in the engine room, however, it was filled with heavy smoke. He attempted to search for anyone who might be there, but was forced to leave due to the smoke and heat. The fire on the water spread quickly and the escaping sailor received burns on his face and shoulders while swimming ashore. Halpin attempted to get clear of the boat and was last seen in the vicinity of the fire. Fire on the water extended far out into the channel, rising to heights of two hundred feet. Explosions from the boats' ammunition and fuel tanks saturated the entire width with burning debris. Due to the intense heat and flame, the fire raged for over ten minutes before fire-fighting equipment could be put into effective use. The boat itself was totally engulfed in flames. Boats were dispatched to check for possible survivors in the area. An extensive search of the entire area was conducted with negative results. Due to the circumstances, little hope for survival was held for Dixon and Halpin. Both men were initially placed in a casualty status of Missing, but Dixon's status was changed that same day to Killed in Action. Halpin was maintained in Missing status until late November, when a Casualty Status Review Board changed his status to Determined Dead/Body Not Recovered. [Taken from pownetwork.org]

Dear MM3 David Lloyd Dixon, 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

David has a military marker in his honor at Scenic Hills Memorial Park, Ashland, Jackson County,OR.

Although we never met personally, I want to thank you David Lloyd Dixon, for your courageous and valiant service to this great country of ours!

Your Spirit is alive--and strong, therefore Mate, you shall never be forgotten!

Again, thank you Sailor, for a job well done!

MAYBE ONE DAY SOON.....UNTIL THEN.....HEAVENLY PEACE MY FRIEND

I have not forgotten you. I chair the Adoption Committee for The National League of Families of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action in Southeast Asia. We will always remember the 1,889 Americans still unaccounted for in Southeast Asia and the thousands of others that lost their lives. We will not stop our efforts until all of you are home where you belong.

We need to reach the next generation so that they will carry on when our generation is no longer able. To do so, we are attempting to locate photographs of all the missing. If you are reading this remembrance and have a photo and/or memory of this missing American that you would like to share for our project, please contact me at:

Candace Lokey
PO Box 206
Freeport, PA 16229
[email protected]

If you are not familiar with our organization, please visit our web site at :

www.pow-miafamilies.org