THE WALL OF FACES

I severely wish you were here to see what has happened to the world, so much has happened since you left for Vietnam, I know that both Grandma kitty and my mom miss you, fly high Uncle Kippy, Fly High.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrances from those who served with you are moving and reflect their admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

A hui hou, I am in Hawaii now, you would have liked it here. Good place to rest old bones.

On the morning of December 21, 1969, a U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A (tail number 67-16142), call sign Apache 13, from A Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, was conducting a reconnaissance mission in an area known as Pearson’s Field near the Cambodian border in Tay Ninh Province, RVN. While scouting the area, the helicopter encountered a large North Vietnamese Army (NVA) force which took the aircraft under fire. The helicopter received a heavy volume of AK-47 fire over an estimated 1000-yard radius. While trying to evade away from the enemy fire, the crippled aircraft crashed and exploded, killing all three crewmen. The lost personnel included pilot WO1 Thaddeus M. Yonika Jr., crew chief SP5 Christopher J. Gray, and observer SGT Barry P. Kaletta. The aircraft was totally destroyed. A Blues Team aero-rifle platoon repelled into the crash site and the bodies of the three crewmen were extracted at 10:55 AM. Airstrikes and artillery placed in the area killed thirteen NVA. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, vhpa.org, and bullwhipsquadron.us]

Staff Sergeant Christopher James Gray, Served with A Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, United States Army Vietnam.