THE WALL OF FACES

The remains of both Lieutenant Parker and Colonel Morrill were located and subsequently identified.

They lie at rest together in Arlington National Cemetery.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.com/aircrew-03181967.htm

I recently found out that Maxims remains have been positively identified and am currently starting the process of claiming the remains for a proper burial which is 35 years overdue. It is ironic that this is the day that the initial claims process was begun. Max was shot down 35 years ago to the day. I never forgot. The journey is almost over Max.

Maxim, your sacrifice and those of your fellow comrades in arms, will never be forgotten. Your memory provided the inspiration for my subsequent twenty years of service in the USAF. I was only 14 when you were shot down, but you left a lasting impression as you treated me as an equal. Others may have forgotten you, but I never have nor will I ever. Rest in Peace. Your brother in law,
Ruben R. Rodriguez

LIEUTENANT COLONEL DAVID WHITTIER MORRILL

AND

2ND LIEUTENANT MAXIM CHARLES PARKER

MARINE FIGHTER SQUADRON VMFA314


LTC MORRILL WAS THE PILOT AND LT PARKER WAS

THE RADAR INTERCEPT OFFICER ON ONE OF TWO

USMC F4B PHANTOM FIGHTERS WHICH LEFT CHU
LAI ON A CLOSE-AIR SUPPORT MISSION OF MARINE

CORPS GROUND TROOPS IN QUANG TRI PROVINCE.

THEIR AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO PULL OFF THE

TARGET ON THEIR FOURTH PASS AND THEN ALL

CONTACT WAS LOST. THE PILOT OF THE LEAD

AIRCRAFT OBSERVED A GROUND EXPLOSION ABOUT

A MILE AND A HALF FROM THE TARGET AREA. NO

PARACHUTES WERE SEEN AND BOTH PILOTS WERE

OFFICIALLY DECLARED AS BEING

MISSING IN ACTION.

IN 1967 WRECKAGE OF THEIR AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED

BY ENGINEERS OF THE USMC BUILDING A ROAD IN

THE VICINITY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS IDENTIFIED BY

ITS TAIL NUMBER. A SEARCH OF THE CRASH SITE

TURNED UP LT PARKER's DOG TAGS AND TWO SETS

OF HUMAN REMAINS, WHICH LATER TURNED OUT TO

BE TWO MARINES KILLED IN BATTLE THERE.

IN 1993 THIS SITE WAS EXCAVATED BY A JOINT

VIETNAMESE / AMERICAN TASK FORCE AND HUMAN

REMAINS AND THE WEDDING RING OF LTC MORRILL

WERE RECOVERED. THE RING WAS SUBSEQUENTLY

IDENTIFIED AND RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, HOWEVER

NO IDENTIFICATION OF THE REMAINS COULD BE MADE.



YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
NOR WILL YOU EVER BE



Please see the life story of -

LIEUTENANT COLONEL DAVID WHITTIER MORRILL

and his brother,

LIEUTENANT COLONEL MERWIN LAMPHREY MORRILL

Max and I were in college together for a few years & took a ride from Hillsdale (MI) to LA one Spring Break in two cars with a bunch of other guys: all of us young and carefree, never knowing what lay ahead. I wound up in Hanoi for three years in the 90s under pretty easy conditions, but never forgot the price other Americans paid, and for what?

God Bless you, Max. Jim