THE WALL OF FACES

Although we didn't know it at the time, we were both in Vietnam at the same time. I arrived in July 1970 and you arrived a moth later. I was in the Air Force stationed at Tan Son Nhut air base in Saigon and you were in the Army up north at Pleiku in the Central Highlands. I didn't find out about what happened to you until a few years later. I'm now 70 years old, but you my friend will be forever young. I've visited the Wall a number of times to say hello and to honor your sacrifice. When my time is up I'll pass away quietly, but you will be honored forever in our nation's capitol. All gave some, but you gave all.

Dear Sp4 Larry Harden,
Thank you for your service as an UH-1 Helicopter Repairer. It is now Lent. The war was years ago, but we all need 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.

SP4 Harden,

I had the honor reading your name aloud this evening at the 35th Anniversary of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial. I am eternally grateful to call you a brother.
Wayne Knutson
1SG(R), USA

I still remember the old days riding around with you on Hondas back in 60s. I felt honored to be a friend of yours back then and even more now.

On January 5, 1971, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C (tail number 66-15040) from the 57th Assault Helicopter Company crashed while conducting a test flight. There were no survivors. The lost crewmen included pilot WO1 John W. Lynch III and aircraft mechanics SGT Douglas B. Kent and SP4 Larry O. Harden. The following is a summary of the incident: The pilot (WO1 Lynch) called the tower for takeoff clearance at 1930 hours to conduct a night test flight to determine if changing the main rotor blades had eliminated the 1 to 1 vertical vibration noted in the 2408-13. He requested closed traffic for runway 05 right, and completed one low approach past the tower. Afterwards, the pilot requested the second one and he was cleared to continue. This portion of the flight was uneventful. As he passed the tower for the second time, his altitude was estimated at 80 feet AGL and airspeed in excess of 80 knots. The aircraft initiated a sharp left climbing turn to the crosswind when suddenly upon reaching approximately 300 feet AGL a brief expletive was heard over the tower radio and the altitude dropped severely. The aircraft then turned 180 degrees and impacted the ground, nose first, at an angle of about 80 degrees, and it never rolled out of the turn. The airspeed at the time of the impact as shown on the airspeed indicator was 130 knots and the time was 1940 hours. The fuselage burst into a ball of flames and burned completely. All three occupants were killed from contact injuries incurred from the crash landing. Their bodies were later recovered. [Taken from vhpa.org]