THE WALL OF FACES

Warrant Officer Rodney Keith Arnold, Served with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 15th Medical Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division.

DEAR WARRANT OFFICER ARNOLD,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS AN UTILITY - OBSERVATION HELICOPTER PILOT WITH THE 1ST CAVALRY. THAT WAS THE UNIT OF A FRIEND'S BROTHER. SAY HI TO MIKE HI TO MIKE IN HEAVEN.

Dear WO Rodney Keith Arnold, 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, Sir

Curt Carter

The crew of UH-1H (68-16429) was performing a test flight. The purpose of the test flight was to perform an N1 topping check. The aircraft departed Phuoc Vinh at approximately 1030 hours and proceeded to the units test flight area south of the Song Be bridge, RVN. At approximately 1100 hours, according to witnesses on the ground, aircraft 68-16429, which was heading in a northeasterly direction, began violently spinning to the right at an altitude of approximately 1200 feet above ground level. Witnesses also stated that at approximately 700 feet above ground level the aircraft began to recover from the spin and that at approximately 400 feet above ground level the aircraft again began to spin, finally crashing in a rubber plantation 8,000 meters to the southwest of Phuoc Vinh. The aircraft was found resting on its right side heading approximately 120 degrees with the tail boom still attached. Although remaining attached to the main body of the aircraft, the tail boom was bent approximately 60 degrees from its normal position and leaning against a rubber tree. The complete tail rotor section with half of the 90 degree gearbox attached was found approximately 15 meters northwest of the aircraft. The detached tail rotor section was found undamaged with the exception of the 90 degree gearbox which was split in half. The remaining half of the 90 degree gearbox remained attached to the tail boom section. Impact with the rubber trees and found approximately 5 meters south of the main body of the aircraft. Small portions of the main rotor blade were found scattered throughout the crash site area. The three occupants of 68-16429, pilot WO1 Rodney K. Arnold and passengers SFC James H. Brooks Jr. and SP6 James T. Conway, survived the initial impact of the crash but succumbed to their injuries subsequent to the accident. [From vhpa.org]

Keith, as these years have passed, I have searched for you in your friends and myself, finding our love and admiration for you, a common bond. I know you are with Uncle Glenn, and what joy it brought him to see you again, as he missed you so very much. The pride I feel for you was first felt by him, passed to me as a precious gift, your memory to be held strong, to be held safe. I heard a Huey flying over my home the other day, and thinking of you, I went outside to glimpse it. Standing in my back yard I watched that sleek bird with a single light toning, head west toward the ocean...and I waved to it, and said ‘hi’ to you out loud...I think you heard me. I think you also know how proud I am of you, and how proud I have always been, to be your cousin. God Bless you always, and thank you for staying near to me. - Brett