THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever…..

Specialist Four Steve Louis Escallier, Served with Company B, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 11th Aviation Group, 1st Cavalry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

On October 31, 1969, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H (tail number 66-16650) from Company B, 229th Aviation Battalion, was on a Command and Control (C&C) mission in Tay Ninh Province, RVN, when it experienced a transmission failure beside Nui Ba Den Mountain and crashed, killing ten U.S. personnel. The lost personnel included aircraft commander CPT Murray J. Wyman, pilot WO1 Michael D. Rosenthal Jr., crew chief SP4 Larry J. McGraw, and gunner SP4 Steve L. Escallier; also lost were passengers LTC Robert L. Alexander, CPT Michael D. Brightman, CPT Adamo E. DeAngelis, CPT Paul E. Reaume, SGM Edward E. See, and SGT Brian J. Morrow. The C&C mission was for a battalion of the 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Americal). The aircraft had been on the mission all that morning and had shut down at the Tay Ninh V.I.P. helipad at approximately 8:30 AM to await its full complement of passengers. Details of the flight after that point are limited. The next contact the aircraft had was between 9:30-9:45 AM when a mayday call was received. An AH-1G helicopter gunship and two scout OH-6A helicopters flying in the area monitored the call and witnessed the aircraft impact with the ground. All the witnesses stated that the main rotor blades of 650 had stopped when they first established visual contact. The UH-1H was between 300-500 feet AGL at this time. The aircraft impacted at a steep angle and exploded on impact. The scout helicopters moved into the crash area in search of survivors while the gunship relayed coordinates and information concerning the crash. The downed aircraft continued to burn after the explosion and most of the aircraft was consumed in the fire. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vhpa.org]

Dear Sp4 Steve Escallier,
Thank you for your service as a Flight Qualified Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice with the 1st Cavalry. 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.

We keep your memory alive at every reunion