THE WALL OF FACES

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 CWO Phillip Pannell, Thank you for your service as an Utility & Light Cargo Single Rotor Helicopter Pilot. I researched you on your 52nd anniversary, sad. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is Lent, and the first day of spring. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Randy, my "little" brother was always special. He volunteered because he believed in freedom for all. I remember asking him "Why, Randy? " because seeing him go to war was so painful. His response, "Sis, there are people there who are my age and have never known freedom. "

The Corps of Cadets and Texas A&M University
Salute: CWO Phillip R Pannell '73
“The Memorial for Vietnam Era”
“Corps Plaza Memorial”
College Station, Texas trb’63
For more information or adding information contact:
Sam Houston Sanders Corps of Cadets Center 1400 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-1400 (979) 862-2862 http://corps.tamu.edu/contact-us

On March 14, 1969, a U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G (tail number 66-15301) from B Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division was operating in the Tay Ninh Province (III Corps), approximately 17 Km N-NW of Nui Ba Den and approximately 6 Km NW of what was known as Landing Zone (LZ) Barbara, or "the old French fort" on Route TL 4. The crew, CW2 Phillip R. Pannell and WO1 David F. Popp, were part of a hunter-killer Pink Team of scout and attack helicopters. The weather was clear and it was late in the afternoon right before dark when CW2 Pannell and WO1 Popp’s aircraft received enemy ground fire, causing it to crash. The OH-6 reported they were flying at altitude with Cobra (AH-1G) in trail and that there was no radio distress call. After a few minutes of no communication, the OH-6 did a 360 and went looking for 301 with negative results. B Troop spent 3 full days looking for 301, and continued to search for the downed aircraft while conducting normal operations in the area. The crash site was located approximately eight months later on January 15, 1970 by elements of Troop A, 1/9 Cav, 1st Cavalry Division. The remains of WO1 Popp and CWO Pannell were found undisturbed and were evacuated to Saigon Airport (TSN) to the military mortuary on January 16, 1970. The aircraft was not recovered due to tactical situation on the ground. In a letter to CW2 Pannell's parents from Major James W. Hanks dated February 6, 1970, he stated "information reveals that Randy was killed by a blast wound that affected the whole body and death was immediate." [Taken from vhpa.org]