THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

In April 2018 a monument to the Vietnam helicopter pilots and crews was dedicated at Arlington... across the river from the wall! The moving ceremony included a helicopter flyover and a Huey was on site!! Remembering is the highest HONOR!! Never forgotten

Warrant Officer Thomas Evans Bennett, Served with A Troop. 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Aviation Brigade, United States Army Vietnam.

On February 24, 1971, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D (tail number 66-16038) from A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 1st Aviation Brigade, crashed while on short final to An Loc Airfield after suffering an on-board explosion of unknown origin. There were no survivors. A total of seven personnel were killed in the incident. The lost crew included pilot WO1 Steven W. Goelz, co-pilot WO1 Thomas E. Bennett, crew chief SP4 Vernon A. Green, and gunner SP4 Michael H. Keys. The passengers were SP5 Craig J. Jakel, CPT Joseph M. Wilsher, and WO1 Clarence D. Hakes. WO1 Goelz was the person in charge of aircraft 038 (Note: a separate account states WO1 Bennett was the aircraft commander). The helicopter was enroute to Quan Loi, leaving Phu Loi at approximately 1750 hours. Goelz obtained an approach surveillance radar (ASR) vector from Phuoc Vinh ground-controlled approach (GCA), probably because PIREPS (pilot reports) were indicating a large storm moving from the south-southwest toward the Na Loc and Wuan Loi area. The Phuoc Vinh radar operator attempted to vector 038 around the apparent storm cells, but with difficulty. He was unable to pick up a transponder signal from 038, so he lowered his screen intensity in an effort to utilize only the image produced by his radar. When the aircraft reached the Quan Loi area, the pilot requested to descend to 1700 feet. At this point radar contact was lost and the radar operator began calling 038 on guard (emergency frequency). Aircraft 038 approached the An Loc airstrip on a heading of about 260 degrees. It appeared to be making a normal approach. At about 20 feet above the ground, the aircraft suddenly yawed to the right. A small explosion was heard and fire was sighted at this time. The helicopter dipped its nose, rolled slightly to the left, and fell straight down, exploding upon impact. The crash distribution was extremely compact, indicating very little if any forward ground speed. Upon impact the engine departed the aircraft, rolling backward past the tail boom. Also, the right cargo door flew up and behind the aircraft. The helicopter did not slide through the perimeter wire of the airfield, but remained in the area of initial impact. The remains of the pilot and co-pilot were contained within the cabin area. Three of the passengers were found beneath the transmission components, and the other two were thrown out the right side of the aircraft. The main rotor and transmission components were initially with the main wreckage and had to be moved in order to facilitate removal of three bodies. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vhpa.org]

DEAR WARRANT OFFICER BENNETT,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS AN UTILITY/OBSERVATION HELICOPTER PILOT. IT IS 2017, 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. AND HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.