THE WALL OF FACES

The crew, consisting of aircraft commander WO1 William W. Wieburg, pilot WO1 Stanley B. Smith, crew chief SP4 Dan L. Herdebu, and gunner SP4 Michael F. Green, was called out late one night for a flight to LZ Uplift. LZ Uplift was taking sniper fire from the mountain side and had requested a flare mission flight. The pilot reported the weather as a factor in declining the mission after arriving. He was then 'ordered' to make the flight, an order he could have but did not refuse, as it was his choice. The chopper was then loaded with 51 flares. On taking off the Huey hooked a skid on some concertina wire and rolled into the ground, exploded and burned. The additional heat from the 51 flares left little more than ashes of the aircraft. That morning, myself and several others were asked to sift through the ashes to try to locate any remains. While doing that I picked up a piece of charcoal about 18 inches long and maybe 12 inches wide that weighed about a pound. I could see a metallic piece embedded in the mass. Later it was determined to be the dog tags of the torso I had found. (From Ben Speed, former 61 AHC pilot, Vietnam 1968) [Taken from vhpa.org]

Michael is buried at Mountainview Cemetery in Pocatello, Idaho.

FOREVER REMEMBERED

"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them....
Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle hero’s you left behind...."

Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell
KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces.

We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you, one of the gentle heros lost to the War in Vietnam:

Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul ... and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.

From your Nam-Band-Of-Brothers

Dear Sir:
Thank you very much for the many sacrifices you made to serve our country. I am a student at Gridley High School in Gridley, Illinois and a part of the Gridley High School Posting Project. I just want to take this time to thank you for everything you have given up for our country. Your love for America is evident because of the sacrifices you have made, the greatest of which was your life. God Bless!
Sincerely, Melissa Kaeb

Thank you for your service In Vietnam, because of your sacrifice we were able to defeat them and prevent more American death from happening. You loyalty to your country will never be forgotten. I am from Gridley, Illinois. This is part of the Gridley High School Posting Project