THE WALL OF FACES

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed...
We feel lucky to have seen it.

May those who served never be forgotten. Rest in peace SSGT. Carson, I salute your brave soul. My heart goes out to you and your family.

Staff Sergeant Donald Scott Carson, Served with the 777th Troop Carrier Squadron, 464th Troop Carrier Wing, 13th Air Force.

Dear SSGT Donald Carson,
Thank you for your service. I do not know your MOS, only that you were Air Force. Decades later, I was born on your birthday, we share that, sigh. Today we celebrate Columbus Day, and we remember those of you who served. It is important for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

On April 12, 1963, a C-123 Provider (tail number 56-4380) crashed on take-off from the still-under-construction airfield at Nakon Phanom, Thailand, killing four crewmen and two Thai civilians on the ground. The four lost crewmen included 1LT Raymond E. Doyle Jr., 1LT Richard L. Hatlestad, SSGT Donald S. Carson, and SSGT Stanley E. Truesdale. SSGT Carson survived the crash, dying three days later. His name was initially over looked on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, but was later corrected. While the aircraft and the two pilots were assigned to the 777th Troop Carrier Squadron temporarily based at Don Muang Airfield, Bangkok, the U.S. Air Force casualty list indicates SSGT Truesdale was assigned to the 776th Troop Carrier Squadron. There may have been two survivors: SSGT Donald Carson Harry Williams III. (Note: There are different versions of why the aircraft crashed. One account stated that the left wing hit a house while the aircraft was attempting to snare a red flag on top of a flagpole. There is also this unattributed description: "I hate to be the bearer of sad news, but the C-123 that crashed at NKP (Nakon Phanom air base) was trying to snag a pair of panties that was flying from a flagpole with a tie-down chain slung out the back ramp. That accident was famous at Pope (air field) even after I got there and started flying." And finally, this version: "I knew several people who were TDY to Saigon when that incident happened. The troops at NKP had run a pair of panties up a flagpole. This particular crew got the bright idea of trying to snag it with a tie-down chain. I've forgotten if they got too low and hit the pole or if the airplane stalled, but that's what happened." [Taken from togetherweserved.com]