THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Quyet Thang 137 (April 19, 1965) was a troop lift of soldiers from the 22nd Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Division by elements of the U.S. Army’s 52nd Aviation Battalion. The operation moved 320 ARVN troops from Phu Cat Air Base to LZ Alpha, situated near a Viet Cong (VC) stronghold on flat coastal plains 19 kilometers (11.8 miles) north of Qui Nhon in Binh Dinh Province, RVN. An additional 100 troops were landed at nearby LZ Bravo. Intense ground fire was received at Alpha, and two armed UH-1B helicopters were shot down while making firing runs over VC positions. Both gunships caught fire after being hit and exploded on impact. Both ships were consumed by post-crash fire; there were no survivors. Four other aircraft were also hit with an additional pilot killed. The lost personnel included: (UH-1B #63-08632 from 145th Airlift Platoon, B Company) aircraft commander 1LT Josef L. Thorne, pilot WO1 Daniel E. Bishop, and crew chiefs SP5 Charles F. Millay and SP4 Gilbert Olivar; (UH-1B #63-08575 from 119th Assault Helicopter Company) aircraft commander 2LT Patrick P. Calhoun, pilot WO1 Douglas D. Mack, crew chief SP4 Arthur F. Hennessey, and gunner SP4 Terry W. Mills; and (UH-1B #63-08646 from 119th Assault Helicopter Company) co-pilot CPT Robert D. Walker. Walker’s ship was hit seven times in the main rotor, tail rotor, and forward cabin area. One of the rounds struck Walker in the abdomen, perforating his heart. The damaged helicopter managed to remain airborne and returned to Qui Nhon. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vpha.org; also “9 U.S. Copter Men Killed By Vietcong Ground Fire.” New York Times (New York, NY), April 20, 1965, and “VC Kill 9 U.S. Fliers.” Pacific Stars & Stripes, April 21, 1965]

You are not forgotten.

There is a place
Not far from here
Where spirits walk
And heroes live
And honor still resides.

It is a wall
With names inscribed
Of those who served
When they were asked...
The brothers of my youth.

I go there still
To walk and think
About my life,
And what I've done since
And things that might have been.

There is a debt
I can't repay
Too many lives were spent.
And one man's life cannot suffice
To make their deaths worthwhile.

But there is hope
In the memory
Of those we leave behind
Who know the price that freedom brings
Who can carry on in kind.

I send you now
To touch a name
So the vision can be passed
Remember there is honor still
It is for you to see it lasts.

They are not dead
And have a wish
As all old soldiers do
The reflection you see before you now
Is their wish to live in you.

Dear Sp4 Gilbert Olivar, Thank you for your service as an UH-1 Helicopter Repairer. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Presidents’, and Valentine’s Days just passed, and Lent has begun. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Uncle Gilbert, thank you for your sacrifice and service to our country. You are our hero and will never be forgotten.