THE WALL OF FACES

DEAR LIEUTENANT BAKER,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A HMH PILOT. SEMPER FI, HALLOWEEN IS APPROACHING, AND ALL SAINTS AND ALL SOULS' DAYS - THE DAYS WE HONOR THOSE WHO LEFT US. MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS GUIDE YOU. REST IN PEACE.

On May 8, 1967, a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter UH-34D (tail number 148771) from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263 (HMM 263) was involved in a mid-air collision with another UH-34 during troop extraction and medevac operations east of Que Son, Quang Nam Province, RVN. After aircraft 148771 had lifted off from the landing zone (LZ), at about 300 feet of altitude its main rotor encountered the tail section of another helicopter. The second aircraft sustained complete loss of tail rotor section, but managed to land intact. Three crewmen of 148771 suffered fatal injuries in the incident when it crash landed and burned. A fourth crewman was ejected from the crippled aircraft and died after falling to the ground. The four lost crewmen included pilots CAPT Jefferson C. Chesnutt and 1LT Jon D. Baker, and crewmen LCPL Michael M. Gukich and CPL Phillip R. Vanasse. There is a personal account for this incident by Mike Mallach: In May of 1967, I was a hospital corpsman with W-2/12 attached to 1st Battalion, 3d Marines. HMM-263 was attached to the LPH (amphibious assault ship) that the 1/3 was embarked upon. To the best of my recollection, we were operating on the ground in country one morning early in May, I’d estimate around 0700 hours, when the choppers began arriving in an LZ adjacent to my location. One of the first was 148771 piloted by CAPT Jefferson C. Chesnutt and 1LT Jon D. Baker and crewed by CPL Phillip R. Vanasse and LCPL Michael M. Gukich. As the chopper lifted off, I observed him rise to about 50-75 feet and hover. Almost instantly, another UH-34D came from the right side of 148771 and very suddenly dipped and passed under the hovering chopper. Unfortunately, its tail rotor struck 148771 as it passed underneath, cutting 148771 in two. The striking chopper made what I would call a hard landing about 100 yards past the point of impact. I don’t believe there were any casualties among the crew of the striking chopper. 148771 was not so lucky, the impact violently spun the chopper in a 360 degree circle, ejecting CPL Vanasse, who apparently died upon impact with the ground. For a moment 148771 seemed to bounce a little in the air and then began to rotate with the movement on the main rotor, then descended to the ground. Upon contact with the ground, the chopper rolled over on its side and burst into a fire ball. I had the unpleasant task of assisting in the recovery of CPL Vanasse as well as the remainder of the crew who perished inside the chopper. I have no idea of the outcome of any investigation into this incident. Not a pleasant tale, but that is the way I recall it 40 years later. (From: Mike Mallach, 2007) NOTE: Mark Gukich, brother of LCPL Gukich, reported in 2016 that when his brother’s body was returned home in 1967, it was intact and unburned. Furthermore, he states that his parents were informed at the time that their son was thrown out of the helicopter and his body was recovered in the field. On-line casualty databases confirm that LCPL Gukich did not perish inside the crashed helicopter. Therefore, it is possible that in Mr. Mallach’s account from vhpa.org he has confused LCPL Gukich ejection from the aircraft with CPL Vanasse. [Taken from vhpa.org and coffeltdatabase.org]

Dear 1LT Jon Douglas Baker, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter

Every day I miss my brother. Every day tears come to my eyes that he is gone. Everyday I think of him in his childhood. Everyday I remember how good he was to his little sister, his whole family and strangers. Every few days when I drive downtown I pass the house we all lived in when we were children and I see the window that use to be his room. Everyday I wish I could trade him a day so he could come back and see his friends. Every month there is a dinner at the building that has a memorial in front of it to honor the fallen men of the Viet Nam war that lived in Logan County. My husband, who was his friend also, and I have dinner with Jon. Everyday I remember that I once read about a soldier that said to his family, "if I die, do not forget me." Jon is not forgotten, everyday he is sent a little smile and a little reminder he is loved through my memories of him. Everyday.