THE WALL OF FACES

Never forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. We should be forever thankful for the sacrifices of you and so many others to ensure the freedoms we so often take for granted.

Dear Lcpl Gerald Nicholson, Thank you for your service as an Aircraft CNE/Weapons/DECM Systems Tech. 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.

On November 1, 1969, a U.S. Marine Corps CH-53A helicopter (#152394) from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 (HMH-361) experienced an explosion while in flight, causing the aircraft to crash into the sea southeast of Marble Mountain Air Facility at Da Nang, RVN. Four crewmen were killed in the incident. They included pilot CPT Roger D. Partington, crew chief LCPL Gerald Nicholson Jr., and gunners MSGT Allen T. Elder Jr. and LCPL Fred A. Nelson. The co-pilot, 1LT Jeffrey T. Hansen, survived the crash and was rescued. The following is his personal account of the incident: I was flying co-pilot on November 1, 1969. CPT Partington was the pilot. The mission was night medevac standby. We took turns flying instrument approaches to Marble Mountain Air Facility (MMAF), while waiting for a call. I was flying, heading inbound toward MMAF at 1,400 feet. I had just radioed a routine position report to MMAF tower when something exploded, shaking the aircraft. A second explosion followed less than a minute later. The accident investigation board later determined that the right nose gearbox had exploded first. The starboard engine exploded next. These two explosions wiped out the hydraulic systems, rendering the aircraft uncontrollable. It also perforated the starboard (right-side) fuel tank, causing it to burst into flames. We fell violently out of the sky, crashing into the sea. The helicopter sank quickly. I was barely able to get out by exiting the portside (left) co-pilot's window. When I surfaced, I was surrounded by burning oil. I swam clear, using only my arms, as my pelvis was broken and my legs weren't working. I also had a compound fracture of my fibula, a bone in my lower right leg. Just when I thought I wasn't going to make it, my seat cushion surfaced, and I grabbed it. I called out to the rest of the crew, but there was no response. I lost my helmet during the crash. It was recovered during the search for wreckage, nearly broken in half. I began running through my survival equipment. At the time, survival vests and life vests were two separate pieces of equipment. If you were flying primarily over water, you wore a Mae West (life preserver) over your flight suit. If over land, you wore a survival vest. As I thought a medevac flight would be primarily over land, I wore my survival vest. Good choice for survival equipment, not such a good choice for staying afloat—the seat cushion turned out to be a life-saver! My survival radio did not work, so I tried my pen gun flares. The night was dark so these showed up pretty well. An Air Force HH-43 search and rescue helicopter was sent out to crash site. I later learned that the crew chief saw my very last flare and was able to pick me up in the searchlight. The rescue helicopter sent down a swimmer on a cable with a seat. He put me on it and they hauled me up and out of the water. After next recovering the swimmer, they flew me to Charley Med for treatment. (Narrative by Jeffrey T. Hansen, taken from popasmoke.com) Note: All of the lost crewmen were recovered except for Partington who was listed BNR (Body not Recovered). [Taken from popasmoke.com]

Dear LCPL Gerald W Nicholson Jr, 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