THE WALL OF FACES

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. We should be forever thankful for the sacrifices of you and so many others to ensure the freedoms we so often take for granted.

Dear Cpl Robert Lazarus, Thank you for your service as an Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice with the 1st Cavalry. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Happy Spring! 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.

Corporal Robert Lani Lazarus, Served with Company C, 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 11th Aviation Group, 1st Cavalry Division.

On October 10, 1969, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H (tail number 67-19524) from C Company, 227th Aviation Battalion, was involved in a troop ferry mission when it crashed, killing three crewmen and four passengers. The aircraft was on its final extraction mission. The route was from the pickup zone to Fire Support Base Deb. The established ACL (allowable cargo load) was 5 troops. The pickup zone could only accommodate one aircraft at a time. Aircraft 524 had previously taken out two sorties of troops to FSB Deb. On the third sortie five troops were loaded on the aircraft in the pickup zone. The aircraft landed on a heading of 190 degrees and picked up to a hover, moving slightly to the rear and up, for a 260 degree departure. While lifting out of the pickup zone, the main rotor blade struck a tree on the right side of the aircraft approximately 75 feet from the ground. The aircraft descended to the ground rolling slightly on its right side in a nose low attitude. Fire began immediately after crashing to the ground. The three lost crew members included pilot WO1 Thomas F. Brown, crew chief CPL Robert L. Lazarus, and gunner SP4 Shelby M. Long. The four passengers who died were SGT William R. Godfrey, SP4 Larry G. Prewitt, SP4 Jose C. Salinas, and CPL William R. Adams. One crewman, the aircraft commander, and one passenger survived with injuries. [Taken from vhpa.org]