THE WALL OF FACES

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 sunlight 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.

MAJ William Earl McDonald is buried in Section 7, site 10099-J of the Arlington National Cemetery.

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

Dear Maj. William McDonald, Thank you for your service as a Navigator/LLL/TV Sensor Operator. 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. Rest in peace with the angels.

On the morning of November 17, 1967, a U.S. Air Force Douglas EB-66C Destroyer from the 41st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, departed Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base for a mission over North Vietnam. Shortly after takeoff, the right engine failed, and the pilot, MAJ Max E. Nichols, performed his engine out procedures and prepared the aircraft and the crew for an emergency landing at Takhli. While the jet was on short final, it descended rapidly into rough ground about 1200 feet short of the runway, slid for a distance, caught fire, and exploded. Only two of the seven crewmen were able to escape the burning aircraft. The lost crew included MAJ Nichols, electronic warfare officers CAPT Rey L. Duffin and MAJ Karl D. Hezel, and navigators MAJ William McDonald and 1LT Theodore W. Johnson. The EB-66 reportedly had a history of engine problems. At or near max weight, hot climate, and the fact that the aircraft was very hard to control with one engine made a successful engine-out takeoff and landing a slim prospect. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, aviation-safety.net, and togetherweserved.com]

On November 17th, 1967 Major William E. McDonald was undertaking his qualification to be a B-66 navigator and the crew of EB-66 54-0473 was selected to conduct his review. He took the place of one of the crew members prior to his qualifying flight. Shortly after takeoff the EB-66 lost engine number 2, like many other B-66’s due to poor engineering. Pilot Major Max Nichols, who they called Piggy, tried to bring the wounded aircraft back around to land but crashed about 1,200 feet short of the runway at Takhli Air Force Base in an unrecoverable position in the muddy fields of Thailand. Being that they just took off, the plane was full of fuel and immediately caught fire. Standing at the end of the runway watching and listening to his crew, his friends, perish was the man left behind, Captain Raymond Morgan, my grandfather. 5 of the 7 men onboard didn’t make it that day and he has had to live with that pain every day of his life since.
A few weeks ago my brother was able to find out and tell him the name of the man that gave my grandfather a second chance to live for another 51 years, 11 months, and 22 days, that man would in fact be Major William E. McDonald. My grandfather told this story to my brother when he was in 8th grade while sitting around a campfire and it was in that moment my brother knew exactly what he wanted to do for the rest of his life, to design the next generation of military aircraft so that no more American lives are lost to careless engineering. 9 years later my brother is doing just that and I think my grandfather and Major McDonald would agree with me when I say we couldn’t be prouder of him.
My grandfather Major Raymond L. Morgan Jr. passed away at home on November 7, 2019 and we can now all take solace in knowing that every day he’s up above flying with his old crew: Major Max Nichols, Major Karl Hezel, Captain Rey Duffin, 1st Lieutenant Theodore Johnson, and Captain Joel Birch. And I hope my grandfather got the chance to meet you and together you are all doing your job by watching over and protecting all of us. Thank you for not only your service, but for everything.