THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from Joyce Bray is touching and reflects her enduring love for you. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

On June 18, 1970, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H (tail number 67-17734) from the 333rd Transportation Detachment, B Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 101st Airborne Division, crashed while making a “mock” gun run over a Vietnamese farmer just north of Hue City in Thua Thien Province, RVN. Seven persons were killed and three were injured. The lost personnel included aircraft commander CWO Rafael A. Chavez, crew chief SP4 Roy J. Holmgren, and gunner PVT James A. Scruggs; two passengers, SSG Arthur D. Neal and SP4 Danny L. Archer, were critically burned and transferred to the U.S. Army Burn Center at the 249th General Hospital, Camp Zama, Japan. Neal expired there on July 2nd; Archer died on the 5th. Two Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) soldiers were also killed in the crash. The co-pilot and two other passengers survived with injuries. The crash occurred while CWO Chavez was waiting for room to offload his passengers at 2/17th landing strip at Camp Eagle after a troop lift from Quang Tri Province. The landing area could only accommodate five ships, so Chavez and another helicopter left the formation and headed toward the coast to fly along the beach. While over a rural area, the other helicopter buzzed a farmer at a very low altitude. Chavez followed suite, and the two pilots began making mock gun runs on the farmer. As the other pilot started to leave the area, Chavez “rolled in” one more time. The surviving co-pilot stated that it was immediately clear that the aircraft was diving too steeply. Chavez flared the helicopter, but the descent continued, and the ship hit the ground tail-low. The aircraft came apart as it slid across the rough terrain, then tumbled and caught fire. The co-pilot was ejected still strapped into his seat, his flight suit on fire. He was able to scramble to a nearby pond and douse the flames. He returned to the wreck and assisted the survivors. The other pilot landed his ship and the injured were flown to a hospital in Da Nang. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vhpa.org]

Dear Ssgt Arthur Neal, Thank you for your service as an Infantry Direct Fire Crewman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It’s a New Year, but not necessarily better. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

i STILL REMEMBER THE DAY YOUR WIFE SENT YOU THE PICTURE OF HER SELF AND YOUR SONS ALL DRESSED IN WHITE IN FRONT OF YOUR CHURCH.. WE HAVE NEVER FORGOT YOU AND WE HONOR YOU AT EACH REUNION OF DELTA TROOP.