THE WALL OF FACES

HOOAH

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

Without people like you our great nation would not exist. Rest in peace SGT. Bennett, I salute your brave soul.

Sergeant James Harvey Bennett Jr., Served with the 14th Air Commando Squadron, 14th Air Commando Wing, 7th Air Force.

On February 14, 1968, a USAF AC-47D "Spooky" gunship (#43-49859) from the 14th Air Commando Squadron departed Phan Rang Air Base in Ninh Thuan Province, RVN, on a close air support mission. Just five miles south of Phan Rang airbase the airplane was shot down with the loss of all eight aircrew members and one Marine observer on board. The lost personnel included pilot LTC Karl M. Waldron Jr., co-pilot MAJ Edward B. Quill Jr., navigator CPT Thomas J. Margle, flight engineer SSGT Warren M. Dixon, loadmasters SSGT Robert K. Kawamura and SSGT Roger G. Lee, gunners SGT James H. Bennett and SGT Brent J. Tosh, and Marine observer CPL Russell J. Fauser Jr. from Subunit 1, 1st ANGLICO, FMFPAC, who reportedly survived the shootdown but later died at 377th USAF Dispensary at Tan Son Nhut. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and ac47-gunships.com]