THE WALL OF FACES

Captain Paul Truman Mc Clellan, Jr. was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement while engaged in aerial flight. He served as a Pilot, Tactical Aircraft, and was assigned to the 1ST AIR COMMANDO SQDN, 6251ST TAC FTR WING, 13TH AF.
See http://coffeltdatabase.org/detreq2.php

The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major action between the U.S. Army and the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and was part of the Pleiku Campaign conducted early in the Vietnam War. There were two main engagements centered on two previously scouted helicopter landing zones (LZs) known as LZ X-Ray and LZ Albany. The first involved the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment and its supporting units which took place November 14–16, 1965, at LZ X-Ray, located at the eastern foot of the Chu Pong Massif in the central highlands of Vietnam. Throughout the battle, the American ground troops received artillery, gunship, and tactical air support. At 2:00 PM on November 14th, during a close air support mission, a U.S. Air Force Douglas A-1E Skyraider (#52-132898), call sign Hobo 19, piloted by CAPT Paul T. McClellan Jr. from the 1st Commando Squadron, 6251st Tactical Fighter Wing, was making a skipbombing attack when it was hit by groundfire and caught fire. The burning Skyraider proceeded approximately three nautical miles north of the target, descending in a slow, right turn where another A-1E pilot, Hobo 19, saw the aircraft hit a tall tree, crash, explode and burn. From the instant it caught fire until it crashed, Hobo 19 did not see a parachute at any time. At 4:30 PM, a helicopter was dispatched from Pleiku to the scene of the crash. Forty-five minutes later, a rescue man debarked from the helicopter and moved to the wreckage of the burnt A-1E where he identified the remains of CAPT McClellan. The body was not removed from the crashed Skyraider since the helicopter crew did not have a body bag, and approaching enemy soldiers forced them to leave. Due to the tactical situation on the ground, McClellan’s remains could not be recovered the following day, and he was listed as Missing in Action. In January 1994, a Joint Field Activity (JFA) team visited the crash site where they found aircraft debris scatted throughout a 50 x 50-yard area. They were unable to locate the pilot’s remains, personal survival equipment, or his grave. Another JFA visit to the site in March 2000 also failed to locate any remains. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

Dear Captain Paul McClellan, Thank you for your service as a Tactical Aircraft Pilot. I researched you on your 89th birthday, happy birthday. You are still MIA. Please come home. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Time passes quickly, but our world needs help. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness. Be at peace.

BROTHERS FOREVER

As a fellow veteran I share that you are not forgotten, Paul T. McClellan, Jr.

I know not your family, but have come across the story of your service, and sacrifice, to our country. I am thankful for your service and I pray that your family here is well. I have visited Mt. Hope Cemetery where a bronze plaque memorializes you and will one day return to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, this time to seek out your name.