THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from a family member detailing their experience attending reunion is poignant. May you rest in eternal peace.

Semper Fidelis! Rest in peace CAPT. Bartolina.

Captain Ernest Elbert Bartolina Jr., Served with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 (HMM-364), Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), Third Marine Amphibious Force.

On February 7, 1969, a U.S. Marines CH-46D helicopter (#153334) [YK-14] from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 (HMM 364) was conducting a medevac mission when it was brought down by enemy ground fire. Six Marine personnel were killed in the crash. One of the gunners, CPL Gregory J. Tomaro, survived the crash. The medevac was shot down in Arizona Territory, near Hue City, Quang Nam Province, RVN. The aircraft launched from Marble Mountain Air Facility on a low overcast day with intermittent rain. The wounded Marines it intended to evacuate were near the village of An Hoa. The pilot was forced to make a low approach to the landing zone and was subjected to intense enemy fire. The aircraft went out of control and crashed very hard in a rice paddy with about 10" of water in it. The lost crew included aircraft commander CPT Ernest E. Bartolina Jr., co-pilot 1LT Russell E. Moke, crew chief CPL Charles W. Willard Jr., gunner LCPL Rodney G. Shank, and corpsman HM2 Walter R. Tyrrell. A passenger, HN Gary N. Young, was also killed. HN Young was reportedly on the flight as part of his training by HM2 Tyrrell in helicopter medevac operations. [Taken from popasmoke.com]

DEAR CAPTAIN BARTOLINA,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVIE AS A HMH/M/L.A (I) PILOT WITH THE SEA KNIGHTS. SEMPER FI. 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.