THE WALL OF FACES

I never got a chance to thank Holly Bell for his 6 October 1969 rescue since I rotated back to the States as soon as I was released from the hospital. Thanks Holly. You and your crew did a fantastic job in picking us up after we were shot down in Laos. Phil Conran.

DEAR MAJOR BELL,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A TACTICAL AIRCRAFT PILOT (VARIOUS). I WISH YOU HADN'T DIED IN THE SAME MONTH AS YOUR BIRTH. SIGH. I AM ALSO GLAD YOU WERE REPATRIATED.. WELCOME HOME...IT IS A NEW YEAR, WHICH MAKES IT FAR TOO LONG FOR YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND YOUR SACRIFICE. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE.. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE.

Major Holly Gene Bell, Served with the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, 3rd Air Rescue Group, 7th Air Force.

On January 28, 1970, pilot CAPT Richard J. Mallon and electronics warfare officer CAPT Robert J. Panek were sent as escort to a reconnaissance aircraft on a mission in North Vietnam. Their F-105 aircraft was a G model, which was an adaptation of the F-105F used in the Wild Weasel program. The F-105F Wild Weasel featured radar homing and warning gear. Upon pinpointing the radar at a missile site, the Wild Weasel attacked with Shrike missiles that homed in on radar emissions. The F-105F was a stretch-limo F105, with a longer fusilage to allow for a second crewman. As modified for the G, the F105 launched Standard ARM rather than the shorter range Shrike. During the period of 1965-1972, the F105 performed on many diversified missions in Southeast Asia, including SAM attack, bombing, and as in the case of the mission of Mallon and Panek, armed escort/diversion. Mallon and Panek's aircraft was shot down during the mission, and they both successfully ejected and landed safely in an enemy controlled area about 20 miles northeast of the Mu Gia Pass on the mountainous border of North Vietnam and Laos. A helicopter was immediately dispatched to pick up the two downed airmen. When the aircraft was about 50 miles northwest of the location of the F-105 crash,it was hit by a MiG and exploded. The helicopter was flown by pilot MAJ Holly G. Bell, and carried crewmen CAPT Leonard C. Leeser, SMSGT William D. Pruett, SSGT William C. Shinn, MSGT William C. Sutton, and passenger SGT Gregory L. Anderson. A short beeper signal was heard from the helicopter, indicating that at least one person aboard may have exited the aircraft. All six aboard were listed as Killed/Body Not Recovered. It was thought that in the cases of Bell and Anderson that the enemy would not likely have knowledge of their fates, but that the Vietnamese could probably account for the other four men. (A determination that was probably made from the relative crew positions and their proximity to the area of the MiG hit and the likelihood of their having escaped obliteration by the explosion.) Mallon and Panek, meanwhile, were in an area heavily infiltrated with the enemy, and it was known that there were enemy troops in the vicinity. It was thought very probable that the two were captured or killed by the enemy, but never known for certain, as they did not appear in the Hanoi prison system to be held with those American POWs who were released. The Vietnamese denied any knowledge of any of the eight men missing that day. Sometime later, family members were told by a squadron mate that his information was that Panek and Mallon had both ejected safely. Mallon had landed on a road near the Mu Gia Pass and was captured almost immediately. Panek landed in nearby trees and his parachute was seen 30 minutes later, being pulled from the trees. Both men were seen in a clearing within the hour, being surrounded, stripped to their shorts, and holding their hands in the air. Neither Mallon nor Panek were ever classified Prisoner of War, however, but were maintained in Missing in Action Status. In December 1988, the Vietnamese returned a number of remains they stated were those of American servicemen to U.S. control. The remains of Mallon, Panek, and the helicopter pilot, Holly G. Bell were subsequently positively identified by the U.S. Casualty Identification Laboratory in Hawaii (CILHI). Richard J. Mallon was buried in Willamette National Cemetery. [Narrative taken from pownetwork.org; image from wikipedia.org]

Dear Major Holly Gene Bell, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter