THE WALL OF FACES

May those who served never be forgotten. Rest in peace SGT. Donnell, I salute your brave soul. My heart goes out to you and your family. Semper Fidelis!

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrances from those who knew you are touching. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us.

Dear Sgt Robert Donnell,
Thank you for your service as a Helicopter Mechanic, CH-46. Memorial Day just passed, 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.

On November 18, 1970, a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter CH-46D (tail number 154837) from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263 (HMM-263) was tasked with an extraction mission of Marine reconnaissance teams in the Que Son Mountains, 7 miles southeast of An Hoa Air Field in Quang Nam Province, RVN. There were three teams in the field that required removal after a medic had broken a leg in a creek bed and two other Marines suffered from high fevers. The weather hampered the operation due to heavy cloud cover. Escorted by UH-1 gunships, the CH-46 descended into the clouds and successfully extracted the first two teams. It later returned to extract the third team by SPIE rigging. As the aircraft pulled away in the foggy conditions from the pick-up zone with the third team dangling beneath, it impacted into a mountain. There were no survivors. The lost crew included aircraft commander 1LT Orville C. Rogers Jr., pilot 1LT James E. Stolz Jr., crew chief SGT Robert A. Donnell II, and gunners LCPL Richard R. Buttry and CPL Enver Bajin. The lost passengers/recon team members were HM2 Russell G. Daniels, LCPL David V. Delozier, 1LT Cleveland R. Harvey, LCPL Gary D. Hudson, LTC William G. Leftwich Jr., CPL Randall P. Manela, LCPL Charles A. Pope Jr., CPL John F. Stockman, LCPL Robert E. Tucker, and CPL Fernando Villasana. [Taken from popasmoke.com and vhpa.org; image from popasmoke.com]

Semper Fi Sergeant.