THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you so much Bob, for the detailed information of your journal from the day my father was shot down and the work you did towards recovery. There is still ongoing investigation work on his case, however there is very little information. I was told the logs were not available or weren't kept for the ship. I very much appreciate your taking the time to share your participation that day as it is more information than I have been able to get from any other source. Thank you for your service and your continued support of our families.

Sincerely,
Karen Orell

Dear Quinlan Orell and James Hunt families:

I reviewed my own service memorabilia and personal diary recently, and recalled my days as a young navy junior officer on the destroyer (USS Power). In my diary entries, I noted that our ship responded, on October 13, 1968, as search and rescue ship to Captain Orell's last report. The pilot had reported having been "locked on" by a surface-to-air missile. Our ship went to General Quarters and we made great haste to the downed area. We were to act as a barrier if we spotted the aircraft, and command had been given to "fill hoists" and fire counter-battery if needed. Our ship patrolled up and down the coast - unfortunately unsuccessfully - at the 12 mile limit of North Vietnam. Our sonar group did, however, evaluate certain noises as small arms fire at the same time that 15 contacts - junks - appeared in the same area. We left the scene next day, October 14, coincidentally passing the battleship USS New Jersey at 4000 yards.

With research I was finally able to connect the pieces of my own personal diary entries from nearly 50 years ago, to Capt. Orell and Lt. Commander Hunt. There might exist more, or perhaps less, detailed information within official Navy Deck logs for USS Power (DD-839) for that specific 10/13/1968 date, but as of this point I have not researched those deck pages myself. I have only my own informal diary recollections which I summarized above. I'm proud to have served, even from afar and with quite different (destroyer) duties, with fellow naval officers and true heroes such as these two USS Coral Sea Attack Squadron 52 aviators. They are a tribute to your families and the many friends who will never forget them. They're in God's loving hands.

Dear Quintan Orell family, my aunt recently passed and we were going through her things and found a bracelet that she must have had for many years. She was also in the Navy as a patty officer and was very proud of that. The reason in Texting you is to see if you would like me to send this to your family. I thought it might be something you would like. My email address is [email protected]

I wanted to express my sincere appreciation for the lovely posts shared here to support my father. Thank you to all who have shared your special memories and thoughts.

I was a fourth grade teacher in Oak Harbor Elementary in 1968 and Barry Orell was in my classroom. I will never forget the morning that Barry came to school and shared that the priest visited his family last night and his dad was missing. My 50 year old memories are somewhat vague but I think of him often especially on Memorial Day. I have visited The Wall several time on my Texas student's 5th grade tours. I have always found his name and shared my story. I hope his family is well.