THE WALL OF FACES

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

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

Dear Sp4 Dan Herdebu, Thank you for your service as an Huey, UH -1 Helicopter Repairer. Today is Armed Forces Day. Please watch over the USA, it still needs your courage. Rest in peace with the angels.

Dear SP4 Dan Leon Herdebu, 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, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

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]