THE WALL OF FACES

Dear CWO William La Grand, Thank you for your service as an Utility & Light Cargo Single Rotor Helicopter Pilot. You are still MIA. Please come home. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. For many of us, we have begun Lent. The time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Bill, I'm now a docent at the Palm Springs Air Museum where we're adding a Vietnam Hanger including a memorial wall and bracelet collection. I was happy to see that you're properly honored in the memorial but greatly saddened to wonder what might-have-been for you these 50 years later.

I fondly remember the good times we had when we were young and how much you loved flying. You were a good student and I'm proud that you became a military pilot.

A bracelet in your honor has been added to the Palm Springs Air Museum Viet Nam Memorial.

Dear CWO William John La Grand, 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, Sir

Curt Carter

William has a military stone in his memory at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Portland,OR. AM-6OLC PH

LAGRAND, WILLIAM JOHN

Name: William John LaGrand
Rank/Branch: W2/US Army
Unit: 197th Aviation Company, 145th Aviation Battalion
Date of Birth: 11 May 1941
Home City of Record: Portland OR
Date of Loss: 05 September 1965
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 110655N 1065516E (YT098293)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 2
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: A1G
Refno: 0137

Other Personnel In Incident: Richard C. Marshall (missing)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 October 1990 from one or more
of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources,
correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.
Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK 1998.

REMARKS: CRASH EXPLODE - NO EJECT SEEN - J

SYNOPSIS: The Douglas A1 Skyraider ("Spad") is a highly maneuverable,
propeller driven aircraft designed as a multipurpose attack bomber or
utility aircraft. The A1 was first used by the Air Force in its Tactical Air
Command to equip the first Air Commando Group engaged in counterinsurgency
operations in South Vietnam, and later used in a variety of roles, ranging
from multi-seat electronic intelligence gathering to Navy antisubmarine
warfare and rescue missions.

Army Chief Warrant Officer William J. LaGrand was a passenger onboard an A1G
aircraft which departed Bien Hoa on September 5, 1965. The pilot of the
plane was Air Force Capt. Richard C. Marshall.

The aircraft was seen to crash and no ejections were observed from the
aircraft prior to impact. The area in which the aircraft went down was under
hostile control at the time, and recovery and excavation attempts at the
time were thwarted because of heavy enemy activity in the area and hostile
presence. Both LaGrand and Marshall were declared killed in action.

LaGrand and Marshall are among 2500 Americans still prisoner, missing, or
otherwise unaccounted for in Vietnam. Since the war ended, over 10,000
reports have been received relating to America's missing in Southeast Asia.
As reports have mounted, many authorities have concluded that hundreds of
them are still alive, one must wonder if LaGrand and Marshall died that day
or their ejection escaped notice and they survived to be captured.

Whatever the fate of William LaGrand, and Riahard Marshall, one can be
certain that they would be proud to fly one more mission to help bring those
who are alive to freedom.