THE WALL OF FACES

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

Some may think you are forgotten
Though on earth you are no more
But in our memory you are with us
As you always were before….

Dear Sgt Richard Kilwine, Thank you for your service as a Huey, UH-1 Helicopter Repairer. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is Advent, and we are beginning our preparations. The time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.

On August 14, 1969, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H (tail number 67-19531) from A Company, 25th Aviation Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, was on a night flare mission three miles south of Trang Bang in Hau Nghia Province, RVN, when the aircraft reportedly was hit by an artillery shell and exploded in mid-air. (Note: a separate report suggests it was hit by a “57mm RPG,” however, 57mm is the projectile size is for a recoilless rifle round). The helicopter was observed to drop straight down from approximately 1000 feet and explode on impact. There were no survivors. The lost 25th Aviation Battalion crew members were aircraft commander 1LT Jeffrey C. Elson, pilot WO1 Melvin L. Grant, crew chief SP4 Richard J. Kilwine, and gunners SGT Jack M. Apodaca and PFC Gil S. Wilfong; the lost passengers were SP4 James B. Hiemenz and 1LT Horatio W. Hurston from Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vhpa.org]