THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever….

Dear WO Edward Melody, Thank you for your service as an Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Another summer is coming to an end, and tomorrow is POW/MIA Recognition Day. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Metallic yet bitter is the way I remember it
One Bullet, One Hole
But the smell is what I remember
Metallic yet bitter
They say he got it in his right eye
But I held his helmet the next morning
Almost warm from his life blood
And definitely soaked
The same blood that ran through his veins when his parents called him to supper
The same blood that coursed through his veins when he first kissed or
Felt the thrill of flight
The same blood that stained the tarmac under the slick
It was a metallic smell I remember
Yet bitter

Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/23/1970 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 21.7
Date of Birth: 06/03/1948
Home City: Fayetteville, AR
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 162 AHC, 164 CAG
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 69-41/69-39
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-049
Short Summary: Hit in the head and killed by a single round while the ship was orbiting at 1500 feet on a last light mission.
Aircraft: UH-1H
Call sign: Vulture
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 01/20/1970
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Location: Phong Dinh Province IV Corps.

Additional information about this casualty:
He was the copilot of a slick accompanying gunships on a last light recon south of Can Tho. He was hit in the head and killed by a single round while the ship was orbiting at 1500 feet. He was the only one on the ship who was hit.

Just saw this piece on the web. Our sincere condolences to the family of Ed Melody. Thank you for your service and may God hold you in the palm of his hand. He was a true hero. The Melody family from New Jersey.