THE WALL OF FACES

On June 19, 1969, 68th Assault Helicopter Company “Mustang” UH-1C gunships were scrambled from Bien Hoa Airbase to cover troops of the 18th Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) in contact with the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) near Xuan Loc in Long Khanh Province, RVN. As the lead gunship started its assault on the NVA positions, it was hit by groundfire and disabled over the jungle near the south bank of La Nga River, ten kilometers (6.0 miles) northwest of Gia Ray Airfield. Aircraft commander WO1 Glenn S. Haukeness Jr. made a successful autorotation to the top of the trees; however, as the aircraft broke through the triple-canopy forest, it crashed to the ground and caught fire. There were no survivors. The lost crew members included Haukeness, pilot WO1 Robert A. Williams, crew chief SGT Richard D. Baca, and gunner SP4 Alan M. Rouchon. [Taken from vhpa.org and “Annual Supplement, History of the 68th Assault Helicopter Company, 125th Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade, 1 January 1969 – 31 December 1969” at 68thahc.com]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us...

I was stationed at Bien Hoa with the Air Force along with his brother, Robert, both of us K Nine Handlers. We met only 2 or 3 times, I remember Richard was always smiling and upbeat.

Ricky...honoring You on your birthday...God bless

Sergeant Richard David Baca, Served with the 68th Aviation Company, 145th Aviation Battalion, 12th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade, United States Army Vietnam.