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.

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

Dear Sp4 Donald Mitchell, Thank you for your service with A Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry. I researched you on your 76th birthday, happy birthday. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Happy Halloween. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

On January 25, 1966, three days prior to the start of Operation Masher, a division-size sweep mission, COL Harold Moore's 3rd Brigade of the 1st Cav Division (5,700 men) prepared to strike at its objectives. Elements of the 1st Cavalry Division were being redeployed by aircraft when tragedy beset the cavalrymen. A Fairchild C-123K Provider (serial #54-0702) from the 311th Air Commando Squadron, 315th Air Commando Group, 13th Air Force mysteriously slammed into a mountainside near An Khe, killing all aboard. All told, 46 men, including the entire crew of the plane, were lost. It was raining and the cloud ceiling was at just 300 feet when the transport plane took off from An Khe for the short flight to the base camp of the 1st Calvary Division. Apart from the 42 passengers, the aircraft carried a load of ammunition and grenades. Shortly after takeoff the airplane flew into a hillside as it attempted to return to An Khe. Reportedly, the airplane had suffered an engine fire just prior to impacting the hillside. The Provider struck trees inverted as it crashed, which was witnessed by squad of 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry troops guarding the pass. Investigators later found evidence of a fire in the No. 2 engine. Recovery team personnel were tormented by what they found at the crash site. “The bodies were badly torn,” said LTC Kenneth Mertel. “It was not as bad to get killed on the battlefield, if one had to.” It would be the worst air crash in Vietnam to date involving US troops. Those lost included USAF crew members CAPT Harry R. Crumley, CAPT Edward C. Handly, SSGT Leonard Williams, and SSGT Richard D. Youtsey. The 42 Army troops of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry from Camp Radcliff included PFC Charles E. Alston, PFC Charles R Ashley Jr., SGT Robert C. Bowman, PFC Monte D. Brooks, PFC Johnnie L. Brown, SGT James P. O’Donnell, SP4 Gary R. Bryant, PFC David E. Burkes, SGT James P. Coats, PFC Paul M. Bell, PFC Billy C. Deweese, SP4 Eugene D. Dollar, PFC Dean J. Elichko, PSGT Charles L. Eschbach, SSGT Samuel P. Giffard, SP4 Donald R. Gribler, PFC Jerome Herrington, SGT John D. Hetterly Sr., PFC Woodie L. Hicks, SGT Radford D. Hogan, SSGT David Hunter, PFC Joseph James, PFC Walter B. Johnson, SP4 Daniel G. Mechling, SSGT Edward Y. C. Kim, PFC Woodrow W. King Jr., SSGT Wencesleo Kuilan, PFC Ray D. Ledford, PFC Edward N. Leonard, PFC Ronald A. Marsh, SP4 Donald T. Mitchell, 2LT Bobbie E. Nolen, PFC Stephen M. Pashman, SGT Henry Pasley, PFC William J. Phillips, PFC Edward B. Smith, SP4 Eugene C. Summers, SP5 Robert Tiller, PFC Westovel Venable, SGT Frank W. Williams Jr., and PFC Harold E. Willis. [Taken from togetherweserved.com and other web sources]

Dear SP4 Donald Thomas Mitchell, 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, Sir

Curt Carter