THE WALL OF FACES

Dear 2LT Bruce Horace Eaton, 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

Semper Fi, Lt.

There are several narratives about this incident: I was the copilot on the lead aircraft of a flight of two CH-46A’s that were detached from Phu Bai to Dong Ha for three days. We went up on 630 in the PM. We flew 71, 72 and the morning of 73. 'Hud' Manning was the AC in the lead aircraft. CAPT John S. “Steve” Roederer and 2LT Bruce H. Eaton were the Aircraft Commander and Copilot of the wing aircraft. Also part of this crew included GSGT Harold D. Philpott and LCPL Frank R. Allender Jr. On the morning of 70367 during preflight we had a small hydraulic leak in the rear ramp area. We determined that it could be isolated during flight and we could be the SAR (search and rescue) bird and let the other aircraft work, hence the mission could be completed. When we stopped for lunch it was determined that we should exchange pilot crews in the two aircraft so that the pilots that worked in the AM could be SAR in the PM. About 1.5 hours after lunch the aircraft came apart and killed the crew of 4. We were able to land and pull Bruce and Steve from the wreckage and take them to the morgue. The fire was intense and ammunition had begun to explode. Therefore, we were unable to retrieve the other crewmembers bodies (Philpott and Allender). Submitted by John C. Jones, pilot, HMM-165. The official narrative stated that the crew lost control of aircraft due to failure of thrust bearing on aft rotor shaft. Cause: Design defect plus maintenance error. Submitted by Ted Read, Squadron Safety Officer, pilot, HMM-165. Investigative Personal Narrative: I dug out my log books & determined that Roederer's aircraft had to be 152532 because we didn't have any BuNo’s as high as 153xxx. In fact, looking further in my logbook, I learned that 153xxx has to be a CH-46D. We didn't have any 'D' models in 165 on the first tour. In fact, we went over with brand-new 'A' models straight from the factory. Most of them had consecutive BuNo’s. IN ADDITION, I found 152532 in my logbook on 13 June 1967. A short explanation of the cause of the accident: The 46A had a 600 hour aft rotor shaft thrust bearing. When 152532 reached 600 hours the bearing was changed. H&MS-36 replaced it by heating it in a baker's oven to enlarge it so it would slide onto the shaft (Shrink to fit). They overheated the bearing in the oven, destroying its hardness. The new bearing failed after about 25 hours of flight. As the bearing failed the aft rotor started to rise up out of the aft pylon causing CAPT Roederer to lose control (ran out of forward stick). Replacement bearings made of a more heat tolerant metal were already in the system but NavAir wanted us to use up the old ones first. Submitted by Ted Read [Taken from vhpa.org]

We were your wingmen. The co-Pilot, me, and our crew chief were able to pull you and Steve from the burning helicopter and take you to the morgue. I would like to find family members to relate some details of your death. You really died in my place.

Bruce is buried at Live Oak Memorial Park, Monrovia , CA. AM-10GS