THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Captain Charles Lane Jr, 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, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

In Remembrance

If I should die, and leave you here awhile, be not like others, sore undone, who keep long vigils by the silent dust, and weep...for MY sake, turn again to life, and smile...Nerving thy heart, and trembling hand to do something to comfort other hearts than thijne...Complete these dear, unfinished tasks of mine...and I, perchance, may therein comfort you.

Charles Lane, Jr. was born on April 21, 1942, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Charles and Beatrice (Hroza) Lane. He had one sister, La Lonnie. Charles first attended grade school at St. Wenceslaus Catholic School in Tabor, South Dakota, then went to Tabor High School and graduated in 1960. His mother recalls that although Charles played football and basketball in high school, “he was usually on the bench.” He then worked at Bob’s Wholesale to earn some money for college. Charles married Cheryl Aldrich in Tabor on November 16, 1963. Soon after, his father died on December 1, 1963. Charles graduated from Yankton College in 1964. He and Cheryl had two daughters, Jo Anne and Julie. Charles Lane, Jr. entered in the Air Force on January 1, 1965, after he graduated from college. He was commissioned as an officer after he trained at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He then earned his pilot wings at Vance Air Force Base, Enid, Oklahoma. After that, he took specialized aircrew training at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, before he was assigned to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, to be a pilot in the Tactical Air Command. Soon after, he went overseas to U-bon, Thailand, as a pilot of the F-4C Phantom 110, which was fast and “extremely maneuverable and handled well at low and high altitudes,” making it popular with pilots. Once Charles told his mother that flying was like baseball. He wrote that it gave a good feeling, like “if you sat on the bench one minute and were playing in the World Series the next.” Captain Charles Lane, Jr. was missing in action on August 23, 1967. He was shot down while flying on his 92nd mission, 10 miles north of Hanoi, North Vietnam. His co-pilot, Major Larry Carrigan of Arizona, pilot of the Phantom F-4, was immediately captured when he parachuted from the plane and held as a prisoner of war for seven years. Later he told Charles’s mother details about the crash. In addition to their plane, another F-4 was also destroyed in the attack. Of the four men in the two planes, three parachutes were seen “descending to the ground.” Charles was in the back seat that day and the missile hit the plane, so it is believed he was killed instantly. Carrigan said he flew quite a distance before he crashed and Charles, had he ejected, should have fallen down sooner. Since North Vietnam was a wooded, hostile area, recovery wasn’t possible. He was presumed dead on October 9, 1973. He has a memorial stone at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. Among his awards, Captain Lane received the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, and the Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters. From the Town & County Weekly News, Tuesday, June 2, 1998. Rest in peace with the warriors.

I was deeply saddened by the news of Capt Charles Lane Jr.'s death. Mine was a MIA bracelet. I always hoped he was safe. I feel it is time for me to return this treasure to his family where it belongs.