THE WALL OF FACES

Tragic loss. Great person. Was a fellow Boy Scout in his Dad’s troop. Thank you for your service. I salute you!

Specialist Five Edward Francis Fratus, Served with Company E, 723rd Maintenance Battalion, Americal Division, United States Army Vietnam.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. You were born two days before me. I am now 73 and have lived a long and fulfilling life. It is tragic you never had that same opportunity. May you rest in eternal peace.

On December 9, 1969, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H (tail number 68-16220) from Company A, 123rd Aviation Battalion, 23rd Infantry Division (Americal) was conducting a routine shuttle mission for support command when it crashed in bad weather into a hilltop three miles southwest of Minh Long Airfield in Quang Ngai Province, RVN. Three crewmen and three passengers were killed. The lost aircrew included co-pilot WO1 Ward L. Hooper Jr., crew chief SP4 Michael J. McClane, and gunner SP5 Edward F. Fratus; the lost were passengers LTC Karl F. Lange, MAJ Roger W. Heinz, and CPT Eugene P. Shumbris. The aircraft commander survived with injuries. The flight initiated at 7:15 AM from Ky Ha Heliport where the crew picked up passengers at the Division Administration pad, then departed for Minh Long. Following a change in passengers, the aircraft departed Minh Long in light rain enroute to Ba To. The helicopter was on a heading which would enable it to follow a valley to Ba To after passing through a saddle in a mountain. As the aircraft passed through the saddle, poor visibility caused the pilots to switch to Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). The aircraft commander assumed control of the ship from the co-pilot. He turned left and initiated a climb. After completing his turn, the aircraft commander looked through the chin bubble when he saw the mountainside approaching rapidly. As he attempted to climb over the hill, the main rotor's retreating blade contacted small shrubs and tall elephant grass on the uphill side of the mountain. As the helicopter continued forward, the skids struck the ground and were sheared off, causing the fuel cells to burst. The main rotor struck the ground and was sheared from the transmission. The tail boom was also severed from the fuselage of the aircraft. Momentum carried the aircraft forward another 150 feet. The destroyed helicopter burned in place; however, it was impossible to determine the exact final resting position of the aircraft because the slope where the accident occurred was approximately 60 degrees and many of the components rolled down the hill following the fire. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vhpa.org]

Dear Sp5 Edward Fratus,
Thank you for your service as an Avionics Communication Equipment Repairer. On this day, Columbus reached our continent, and we honor all of you who stand for us. 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.