THE WALL OF FACES

On November 2, 1969, a U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A (tail number 67-16419) from Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC), 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, was on a reconnaissance mission when it was hit by a B-40 rocket while hovering near a tree line. The aircraft crashed and its three crewmen were killed. Army casualty reports state the attack occurred in Tay Ninh Province (III Corps). However, other handwritten evidence on Army files suggest that the downing of the aircraft actually took place just across the Cambodian border, about 8 miles northwest of Katum in northern Tay Ninh Province. The names of the three crewmen lost in this incident were pilot WO1 Leo C. Hester Jr., crew chief SP5 David F. Abbott, and gunner CPL Michael L. Harris. Two years earlier in March 1967, WO1 Hester’s father, LCDR Leo C. Hester Sr., was killed when the U.S. Navy VC-47J he was co-piloting crashed after losing a wing near Phan Rang. A total of 14 U.S. personnel died in that crash. The Hesters are one of three pairs of fathers and sons who died during the Vietnam War. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and pownetwork.org]

I was curious to look up my Uncle and Grandfather. Both killed in Vietnam. I was overcome with emotion when I see the post here. These men both Leo Claude Hester and Leo Jr. are from my mothers side. Leo Jr is my mothers brother.

Please if you have any memories, pictures, questions, please email me and [email protected] I will forward all messages to my mother. She will be overjoyed when I send her to this site.

Again we thank you for these moments and words.

The Augustine (Hester) family.

Dear WO Leo Claude Hester Jr, 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

Looking at some old slides and found one of a bunch of 1st CAV 'Killer Spade' Slick Drivers. Those were the days...a Huey strapped to your back 10 to 12 hours a day and sleeping in a hole in the ground...made the beer taste reeeal good.

Leo is buried at Barrancas Nat Cemetery.