Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

Chief Warrant Officer Kenneth Allen Barger, Served with D Troop, 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

On February 11, 1971, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H (tail number 67-17768) from D Troop, 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry, call sign Charlie Horse 21, was shot down one mile northwest of the Rockpile in Quang Tri Province (I Corps), RVN, while attempting to rescue the crew of a downed OH-58A Kiowa scout helicopter (#69-16091). The UH-1 aircraft commander, CW2 Kenneth A. Barger, and the crew chief, PFC Raymond F. Carroll, were killed in the incident. While approaching the Kiowa, the UH-1 radioed it was OK, then seconds later was hit by .51 caliber fire. It crashed inverted and began burning, trapping Barger and Carroll. The co-pilot, 1LT Melvin B. Pobre, survived the crash and was rescued. According to Pobre, who was flying in the right seat, the aircraft had eight ARVN soldiers on board when hit. The three most seriously injured were lifted out by another Huey (UH-1) using a jungle penetrator. The Huey with the jungle penetrator was the second medivac on the scene, the first one was fired on and driven away. The other survivors walked to a clearing to get picked up. Pobre’s injuries required that he be medevacked to Tripler Army Medical Center Japan. [Taken from vhpa.org]

DEAR CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER BARGER,
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE AS AN UTILITY/OBSERVATION HELICOPTER PILOT. WATCH OVER OUR NATION. VETERANS' DAY JUST PASSED - SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER AND HONOR ALL OF YOU. THANKSGIVING IS APPROACHING. WE GIVE THANKS FOR YOU. MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS GUIDE YOU. REST IN PEACE.

Dear Kenneth,
You Have Not Been Forgotten!

The Society of the Fifth Division, U.S. Army, during its 95th Annual Reunion in Pittsburgh, PA (Sept 10-14, 2015) , held a Reading of the Names Ceremony to honor the 514 Soldiers from the 5th Division that were Killed in Action during the War in Vietnam. Your Name Was Read Aloud Among Those Soldiers. You Have Not Been Forgotten! Rest in Peace, Dear Brother.

Thomas Grafton
Alpha company, 7th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division
Vietnam (1968-1969)