THE WALL OF FACES

SP4 Carl C. Bates Jr. was a flight-qualified helicopter mechanic and crewman serving with the 57th Assault Helicopter Company based at Kontum, RVN. On August 17, 1969, SP4 Bates was the gunner on a U.S. Army UH-1H helicopter during a flight into Laos to recover a Special Forces LLRP team when the aircraft was fired on by a hostile ground force. Bates was fatally wounded and the crew chief was critically injured. The aircraft was able to maintain flight and did not crash or burn. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Kenneth Morrison (October 2003) at thewall-usa.com]

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.

Thinking of you on your birthday

Your cousin, Arlene

This would have been your 70th birthday
I think of you often

Patricia (Trish) Bates from Houston Texas

DEAR SPEC 4 BATES,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A FLIGHT QUALIFIED AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE APPRENTICE. IT BUGS ME THAT YOU DIED 4 DAYS AFTER YOUR BIRTHDAY. SIGH. 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. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE.. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE.