THE WALL OF FACES

I visited the traveling wall today which came to Ocala, FL. Found your name on Panel 12W Line 111. Gave you a "slow hand salute". We both serviced on the Coral Sea CVA 43. I wore my Coral Sea hat in your honor. May your soul rest in peace in the North Viet Nam waters were you were lost. AMHC Stephen Olexa USN/ret.

Petty Officer Third Class Andrew Anthony Horchar Jr., Served with Airborne Early Warning Squadron 116 (VAW-116), Carrier Air Wing 15 (CVW-15), USS Coral Sea, Task Force 77 (TF-77), 7th Fleet.

One of the aircraft that launched from the decks of the USS CORAL SEA was the Grumman E-2A Hawkeye. It was a strange-looking aircraft, with twin turboprop engines, four vertical stabilizers (three of which were actually necessary for controlled flight, the remaining surface being added for appearance's sake), and a large, 24-foot diameter radome which rotated at six revolutions per minute, on a pylon directly above the fuselage. The E-2A mission was airborne early warning, vectoring fighters and strike bombers to and from targets on the ground, as well as airborne threats of MiG interceptors. The Hawkeye was literally the aerial nerve center of the fleet, controlling bomber strikes and MiG-killing missions with equal facility. LTJG Charles B. Pfaffmann was an E-2A pilot assigned to Carrier Early Warning Squadron 116 onboard the USS CORAL SEA. On April 9, 1970, he and his co-pilot LT Larry C. Knight and technicians AMH3 Brian L. Bushnell and AMH3 Andrew A. Horchar Jr. were launched in their E-2A Hawkeye on a routine mission over Vietnam. Immediately after launch, the aircraft crew reported a fire and their intention to return to the ship. LT Pfaffmann's aircraft impacted the water about three miles ahead of the CORAL SEA. A rescue helicopter and escort destroyer were on the scene within minutes. No survivors were seen, and no remains were recovered. [Narrative taken from pownetwork.org; image from wikipedia.org]

The attack carrier USS Coral Sea formed part of Task Force 77, the carrier striking force of the U.S. Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific. One of the aircraft that launched from the decks of the Coral Sea was the Grumman E-2A Hawkeye was a strange-looking aircraft, with twin turboprop engines, four vertical stabilizers (three of which were actually necessary for controlled flight, the remaining surface being added for appearance's sake), and a large, 24-foot diameter radome, which rotated at six revolutions per minute on a pylon directly above the fuselage. The E-2A mission was airborne early warning, vectoring fighters and strike bombers to and from targets on the ground, as well as airborne threats of MiG interceptors. The Hawkeye was literally the aerial nerve center of the fleet, controlling bomber strikes and MiG-killing missions with equal facility. LTJG Charles B. Pfaffmann was an E-2A pilot assigned to Carrier Early Warning Squadron 116 onboard the USS Coral Sea. On April 9, 1970, he and his co-pilot LT Larry C. Knight and technicians AN Brian L. Bushnell and AMH3 Andrew A. Horchar Jr. were launched in their E-2A Hawkeye on a routine mission over Vietnam. Immediately after launch, the aircraft crew reported a fire and their intention to return to the ship. LT Pfaffmann's aircraft impacted the water about three miles ahead of the Coral Sea. A rescue helicopter and escort destroyer were on the scene within minutes. No survivors were seen, and no remains were recovered. [Taken from pownetwork.org]

Dear AMH3 Andrew Anthony Horchar 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