THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Lieutenant Robert Edward Bernhardt,
I would like to say thank you for your service as a tactical aircraft pilot. Many lives were sacrificed for their country in the Vietnam War, you fought bravely and sacrificed your life for your country. In more recent times, not many people, the age that you were, would do what you had done, they would not have the courage to do that.
You and your comrades still give hope to Americans all over the United States from what you had done in the Vietnam War. You wrote letters to loved ones even though times were hard, you fought and killed some of the enemies, and more importantly, you carried out your mission as a pilot in the army.
Thank you for all your hard work, and may you rest in peace in heaven.
Sincerely,
Cheyenne Banks.

DEAR LIEUTENANT BERNHARDT,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A TACTICAL AIRCRAFT PILOT (VARIOUS). WITH EACH YEAR THAT PASSES, IT 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.

On February 5, 1973, about a week after the signing of the Paris Peace Agreement, an EC-47Q aircraft was shot down over Saravane Province, Laos, about 50 miles east of the city of Saravane. The crew of the aircraft consisted of the pilot, CAPT George R. Spitz, co-pilot 2LT Severo J. Primm III, CAPT Arthur R. Bollinger, 1LT Robert E. Bernhardt, SGT Dale Brandenburg, SGT Joseph A. Matejov, all listed as crew members, and SGT Peter R. Cressman and SSGT Todd M. Melton, both systems operators. The families of all aboard the aircraft were told the men were dead, and advised to conduct memorial services. It is known that Cressman and Matejov were members of Detachment 3, 6994th Security Squadron from Ubon, Thailand. The aircraft, however, was flying out of the 361st TEW Squadron (Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron) at Nakhon Phanom Airbase, Thailand. Primm, Melton, Spitz, Brandenburg and Bernhardt were assigned to the 361st TEW Squadron. Bollinger's unit is unknown. The men in the 6994th were highly trained and operated in the greatest of secrecy. They were not allowed to mingle with others from their respective bases, nor were the pilots of the aircraft carrying them on their missions always told what their objective was. They were cryptology experts, language experts, and knew well how to operate some of the Air Force's most sophisticated equipment. They were the first to hear the enemy's battle plans. [Narrative taken from pownetwork.org; image from wikipedia.org]

Dear 1LT Robert Edward Bernhardt, 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, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

Every year I remember your birthday and every year I remember your eternal homegoing. I know you are there with Dad. Mom and I will join you soon. It seems like a lifetime ago when our family was all together. I pray our whole family will be ready when God calls or Jesus returns. You would love your nieces and their children.