THE WALL OF FACES

On December 29, 1967, a C-130E aircraft departed Nha Trang Airbase shortly after midnight on an operational mission over North Vietnam. The eleven man crew aboard the aircraft included MAJ Charles P. Claxton, CAPT Edwin N. Osborne Jr., and CAPT Gerald G. Van Buren (all listed as pilots), and crewmen SSGT Edward J. Darcy, SSGT Gean P. Clapper, SSGT Wayne A. Eckley, LTC Donald E. Fisher, TSGT Jack McCrary, CAPT Frank C. Parker III, CAPT Gordon J. Wenaas, and SGT James R. Williams. At 4:30 a.m., the pilot made radio contact with Nha Trang and said the mission was progressing as scheduled. No further contact was made. The aircraft's last known position was in extreme northwest North Vietnam, in mountainous Lai Chau Province. The eleven Americans aboard the aircraft were declared Missing in Action. When the war ended, and 591 Americans were released from Vietnamese prison camps, the crew of the C-130 was not among them. In October and November 1992, a joint U.S. - Socialist Republic of Vietnam team interviewed five witnesses who had knowledge of the crash site. Two of the witnesses had visited the area of the crash in 1967 or 1968 and provided information about the site. Some of the witnesses turned over identification cards or tags that contained the names of some of the crew members. The team visited the site and recovered some human remains. In February 1993, the government of Vietnam turned over additional remains and a photocopy of more identification media. In October and November a joint team led by Joint Task Force-Full Accounting excavated the suspected crash site where they recovered aircraft wreckage, personal effects and human remains. In 1994 and 1995, Vietnamese citizens and government officials turned over additional remains. Department of Defense analysts concluded from the distribution of the aircraft wreckage that the C-130 hit a mountainside and the crew was unaware of the impending crash. Nine parachutes were accounted for among the artifacts recovered, and there are no unresolved live sighting reports associated with this incident. Analysis of the remains and other evidence by the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii established the identification of the eleven servicemen. (Note: a much more detailed account of this incident is available on pownetwork.org) [Taken from pownetwork.org]

Dear CMS Wayne Alvin Eckley, 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

I have worn Wayne Eckley MIA bracelet and have had since the early 70's. I just now, after all these years can put a face to the name. I'm sadden in the way he passed, but am glad he is home. My Father, Ben Alexander fought in that war and passed away from Agent Orange. He suffered so much before he passed as he endured many health issues due to AO.I know how sad it is to loose a Father due to war and remember some of the sad stories my dad shared with me while he was in Vietnam. .The horrible things our Soldiers endure from war is so hard to swallow. They are all truly HEROES and sacrifice so much for our Country. I wish they would have been treated with respect back then like they are today. I am glad to see that people finally realize what they go through. Un like how our veterans were so badly treated from the public when they returned home from Vietnam. I'll never forget! It was so sad. All though I still think more needs to be done for our Veterans that they so much deserve. I cant imagine a family waiting so long to find out what had happened and the not knowing all the years Wayne's was MIA. I've carried him in my heart all these years along with so many Soldiers from the Vietnam War. I would like to pass over the bracelet I have, to his family. If any one could help me contact them I would greatly appreciate it. Rest In Peace, Wayne. You will never be forgotten and will always be appreciated for your sacrifices <3 Karen Alexander Holder

Wayne is buried at Joseph Cemetery,Joseph, Wallowa County,OR.

Rest in peace with the warriors.