THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. You died at 18 years of age. I am 74 and have lived a long and fulfilling life. It is tragic you never had that same opportunity. May you rest in eternal peace.

Never forgotten.

HOOAH

On the remembrance of your 72nd birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Forever 18.

HOOAH

Dear PFC Gary Meier, Thank you for your service as a Flight Qualified Huey UH-1 Helicopter Repairer. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Another summer is coming to an end. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

During early May 1968 elements of the 198th Infantry Brigade had several engagements with NVA forces in Quang Tin Province, particularly along the east-west axis formed by LZs EAST (Hill 488), CENTER (Hill 348), and WEST (Hill 440) along the Hiep Duc Valley.

At 10:30 on 05 May 1968 a UH-1D (tail number 66-17075) from the 176th AHC was shot down at BT069246 while carrying troops for a recon patrol southeast of LZ CENTER. The aircraft was hit by .51 caliber fire while at 2,500 feet, lost its main rotor, crashed and burned, killing ten men:

• Aircrew, 176th AHC:
o CWO David L. Blattel, Scott City, MO, pilot
o 1LT Samuel R. Gardner, Wichita, KS, copilot
o SP4 Gordon L. Terrell, Gervais, OR, gunner
o PFC Gary M. Meier, Lake Crystal, MN, crew chief

• Passengers, E Co, 1st Bn, 6th Infantry:
o SGT James P. Freeman, Masterson, TX
o SGT Robert E. Quick, Elkhart, IN
o SGT Barry T. Reinhardt, Minneapolis, MN
o CPL Russell W. Eggert, Cleveland, OH
o CPL Duane M. Normandin, Gentilly, MN
o CPL Robert G. Weddendorf, Inglewood, CA

Fifteen minutes later UH-1C tail number 66-00510 from the 71st AHC was shot down at BT075248. Although all four crewmen were injured, none died. Soldiers from Bravo 1/6 Infantry were picked up by helicopter at LZ Center and combat assaulted at 14:35 hrs to secure the area near the downed aircraft. At 17:50 D Company, 1/20 Infantry were inserted to reinforce Bravo 1/6. At 18:24 Bravo 1/6 and Delta 1/20 received incoming 82mm mortar fire at BT083247, killing one soldier and wounding six others from Delta 1/20. An immediate air strike was called at BT083246, only 100 meters distant from the friendly troops. Three US soldiers were wounded by bomb fragments - and one of them died from his injuries. These two men were:

• SGT Larry F. Gleason, Harleysville, PA, A Co, 26th Eng Bn, and
• SP5 John L. Vories, Booneville, AR, medic, HHC 1/20 with Delta 1/20.

As night fell the two rifle companies formed a defensive perimeter, and on 06 May recovered the bodies from the burned out hulk of 66-17075. - See more at: http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/38098/DUANE-M-NORMANDIN#sthash.8v56pwc6.dpuf