THE WALL OF FACES

On February 16, 1969, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D (tail number 66-16091) from the 57th Assault Helicopter Company was attempting to insert a Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) team in a landing zone one mile northeast of Polei Kleng in Kontum Province, RVN, when the aircraft received an unknown number and type of hits from enemy ground fire. The pilot, WO1 Normand P. Perron, radioed on climb out that the controls were erratic. The aircraft then began a slow spiral descent and crashed, bursting into flames upon impact. All four of the crewmembers were killed as were the four LRRP team members aboard. The lost crewmen included WO1 Perron, aircraft commander WO1 Arthur L. Papale, crew chief SP4 Rick A. Oliver, and gunner SP4 Larry M. Alcos. The four lost Rangers were SGT Ralph G. Dunn, SP4 Gerald Q. Hancock, PFC Hugh R. McKinney, and SP4 Jack L. Rightmyer. Hancock was posthumously promoted to Sergeant and McKinney to Corporal. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vhpa.org]

This was my husband, with whom I had plans for a lifetime filled with love, children, and many years together. That didn't happen because I lost him to the war. I miss him everyday. He was a good man whose memory I still cherish deeply in my heart. So many good men were taken by this War so far away. Please remember and pray for them.

Dear WO Arthur Lawrence Papale, 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

Arthur is buried at Southern Memorial Park, Biloxi, Harrison County,MS.

You sacrificed the same day as my fiance Robert David Rogers. A poem for you:

How often you will have me near you when wood smoke drifts across the wind, or the sky darkens in a summer storm - think of me in the days to come, as I am thinking of you this minute, not gone or alone or dead, but part of the earth beneath you, part of the air around you, part of the heart that must not be lonely.