THE WALL OF FACES

Just saw your name on the Vietnam Moving Wall. Always heard you passed days before I was born. You lived two doors away. May you RIP. Thank you for protecting and serving. #AmericanHero

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your friend Bob Wasserman is especially moving. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us...

We understand the gravity of your sacrifice!
May America always understand and honor you and the countless others who sacrificed everything for her !

On April 11, 1968, a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter UH-34D (tail number 145804) from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 163 (HMH-163) was involved in a mid-air collision with a U.S. Marine Corps UH-1E helicopter (tail number 154968) from Marine Observation Squadron 6 (VMO-6) with the loss of twelve personnel. The UH-34D, call sign Seaworthy 4-5, was launched on an emergency medevac mission with two VMO-6 Huey gunship escorts to pick up some wounded Marines in the hills around Khe Sanh. They were on their way to Delta Med at Dong Ha when they collided and crashed near the abandoned refugee camp at Cam Lo. The gunships were flying above and behind the UH-34, as usual. According to one of the gunners on the second gunship, the 34 and lead Huey just "kind of kissed" and both went down. The UH-34 was torn apart and the UH-1E was consumed by fire. The lost UH-34 crew included aircraft commander CPT Eugene R. Gannon, co-pilot 2LT John P. Holden II, crew chief CPL Frederick D. Graten, and gunner CPL John A. Nixon. The passengers were CPL Robert W. Belcher, PFC Dennis R. Davidson, PFC Richard E. Erwin, and PFC Charles R. Finley. The lost gunship crew was aircraft commander 1LT Ronald E. Riede, co-pilot CPT Bruce F. McMillan, crew chief CPL Paul J. Allen, and gunner LCPL Michael G. Demarco. [Taken from vhpa.org and popasmoke.com]

Remembering you on this Veterans Day, November 11, 2017 As it is also your birthday I pray that you have family members left to remember you each and every day.