THE WALL OF FACES

DEAR MAJOR - FATHER BARRAGY,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A CHAPLAIN. IN THIS PLACE OF PAIN AND LOSS, YOUR COMFORT WAS SO NEEDED. YOU WENT WHERE THE HOLY SPIRIT LED YOU, FOR THAT I THANK YOU. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE. ADVENT IS HERE, AND CHRISTMAS IS APPROACHING. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOU. THE NEW YEAR IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, WHICH MAKES IT FAR TOO LONG FOR YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE.

On May 4, 1966, a U.S. Army helicopter CH-47A (tail number 64-13138) from the 147th Assault Support Helicopter Company ("Hill Climbers") crashed during a combat mission 13 nautical miles northwest of Nhon Co while deploying to a forward base. The passengers were from 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry of the 101st Infantry Division. One of the passengers was the 1st Brigade’s Roman Catholic chaplain, Major William J. Barragy. Eyewitnesses agreed for the most part that there were flames coming from the rear of the aircraft and it seemed to have no forward airspeed and was spinning and falling straight down. The technical report suggested that the combining transmission failure, excessive heat, and fire causing the #2 drive shaft to separate. The resulting fire may have been ingested into the remaining engine causing a loss of power, SAS (Stability Augmentation System), and aircraft electrical systems. There is evidence that the pilot attempted to flare the helicopter prior to impact to no avail, the aircraft crashing on its left side and was consumed by fire. There were no survivors. The crew included aircraft commander CW3 George A. Clark, pilot CW3 John A. Eddy, flight engineer SP6 Edgar S. Doliber, crew chief SP5 Aaron B. Aumiller, and gunner SP4 Fairley W. Mills. The passengers were MAJ William J. Barragy, PFC Roger L. Berg, SSGT John A. Brown, PFC Robert L. Clark, PFC Roger C. Collette, SP4 John F. Concannon, MSGT J. D. Harrell, SSGT Gene Hawthorne, PFC Malakia Jackson Jr., PFC Michael Simpson, PFC Joseph J. Swayze, PFC Robert E. Thompson, SP4 Earnest A. Tucker Jr., FSGT Harden B. Walker, and SP4 Howard D. Weiss. [Taken from vhpa.org and armyaircrews.com]

I have been reading over the letters/comments that so many have written about my cousin Father Bill. Thank you all so much for never forgetting. It brings much comfort knowing others realized what we knew.

Dear Major William Joseph Barragy, 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

Rest in peace with the warriors.