THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Lt Raymon James, Thank you for your service with the General Staff. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It's the end of summer and yesterday was Labor Day. The time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Raymon is buried at Old Madison Cemetery, Madison,AL.

Dear 1LT Raymon Horace James 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

On the morning of 10 November 1971, at approximately 0230 hours, aircraft 66-16036 took from Phu Loi, RVN, with a crew of five, enroute to an enemy contact site approximately 17 12 miles southeast of Saigon. The crew consisted of aircraft commander CW2 James P. Delaney, pilot WO1 Francis J. Klassen, crew chief SP4 Henry F. Dellecker, gunner SP4 John M. Clark, SGT Dennis M. Higgins and passenger 1LT Raymon H. James Jr. Two AH-1 helicopters had lifted off from Phu Loi approximately 30 minutes ahead of 036 were orbiting the contact site when they were contacted by 036 stating that he was enroute to their position. Aircraft 036 was then directed to fly straight to an ARVN compound and pickup an American advisor and a Vietnamese officer. After making the pickup at the ARVN compound, 036 proceeded to and took up an orbit above the contact site at approximately 2,000' AGL and below the two orbiting AH-1's. During the orbiting the pilot of 036 was giving instructions to the A-1 pilots when he stopped in mid-sentence and announced that he had transmission failure. He started a rapid descending left turn. During the descent the pilot was monitored to say three times 'watch my RPM'. Three to five seconds before impacting and exploding the pilots of the AH-1's noticed that the landing light came on and the rate of descent appeared to increase from that point. All persons aboard 036 were fatalities, and the aircraft totally destroyed. [Taken from vhpa.org]

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.

Mary Frye – 1932