THE WALL OF FACES

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.

On February 12, 1969, a U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A (tail number 66-07857) from B Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, was conducting a reconnaissance mission over a rubber plantation east of Song Be, Phuoc Long Province, RVN, when it came under hostile groundfire and crashed, killing all three crewmen. The lost personnel included pilot WO1 George K. Hamilton, crew chief SP4 Richard D. Bartholomew Jr., and observer PFC Robert D. Shoemaker. The aircraft was hit by both .51 caliber and automatic weapons fire which came from a North Vietnamese Army battalion moving through the plantation. A second scout helicopter attempted to extract the downed crew and received fire from three sides. The aircraft took numerous hits and crashed a half-mile to the north. Two squads of Aero riflemen, one inserted at each downed aircraft, came under intense machine gun and automatic weapons fire. Fire was returned, killing three enemy while the reaction force suffered five wounded. Both squads were extracted along with three surviving crew members from the second scout helicopter. Aerial rocket artillery, tactical air strikes, and artillery were directed at the enemy positions until 7:30 PM. The Air Force supported with suppressive fire from a Douglas AC-47 “Spooky” gunship and a B-52 raid at 9:00 PM. Enemy losses were estimated at 66 killed. Shoemaker was posthumously promoted to Corporal. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vpha.org]

Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal & 10 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart. Helicopter shot down near Phuoc Binh.

DEAR SPEC 4 BARTHOLOMEW,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A HUEY - UH-1 HELICOPTER REPAIRER WITH THE 1ST CAVALRY. THIS WAS THE UNIT OF A FRIEND'S TWIN WHO ALSO DIED IN PHUOC LONG. SAY HI TO MIKE IN HEAVEN. 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.

Will always remember you Dickie. Went to the Wall this April. Did a 'Name Rubbing'. I remembered all the times we gathered together at your Grandparents home both in Wauwatosa & Up North.
Also went to Vietnam to see where you served. Thanks for everything you did to serve our country.