THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. I am heartened you returned home after the passage of so many years though I wish it had been under very different circumstances. May you rest in eternal peace.

Major Parsons at the time, mentored a number of young college students at Trinity University, my eldest brother being one. Major Parsons and his family came to New Orleans, our home, in 1967 for Mardi Gras for the Trinity ROTC drill team to march and perform rifle drills in parades. I was 10 years old at the time and got to spend time with the drill team members and the Parsons family. This was a memorable time for me as well I'm sure my other family members. My brother went on to receive his officer commission also serving in Vietnam. We were all saddened to hear the news abt LTC Parsons just a few years later, something none of us ever forgot. This is late but he is still remembered many years later. Dave Masinter

Dear LTC Donald Parsons, Thank you for your service as a Tank Unit Commander. Your 92nd birthday is soon, happy birthday. I am glad you were identified in 2000. Welcome home. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is Holy Week and Passover. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

On February 6, 1969, pilot CW2 Charles I. Stanley, aircraft commander 1LT David E. Padgett, crew chief SP5 Robert C. O'Hara, door gunner PFC Eugene F. Christiansen, and passengers LTC Donald E. Parsons, 1LT Ronald D. Briggs, and MAJ Vu Vanh Phao, ARVN, were aboard a UH-1H (serial #67-17499) on a resupply mission in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. While in route from Landing Zone Vandergrift to LZ Tornado, 1LT Padget contacted the LZ Tornado radio operator at about 1100 hours and stated that due to poor weather conditions and poor visibility, the flight was returning to LZ Vandergrift. At that time, the radio operator at LZ Tornado could hear the helicopter northeast of his location, which sounded as if it were heading in a northerly direction. When the aircraft failed to return to LZ Vandergrift, a coordinated search and rescue operation was initiated and continued for seven consecutive days, finding nothing. However, on the morning of February 7, Crown, an airborne control aircraft, reported receiving radio beeper signals several times from the general vicinity of where Lt. Padgett's aircraft was last reported. The beeper signals were estimated to emanate from that general direction. The source of the signals was never determined. The area in which the aircraft was estimated to go down has been dubbed "Antenna Valley" and is located west of Cam Lo and on the backside of Camp Carrol. The area was occupied by NVA regulars, and was never cleared. On-site search was not possible at that time. In 1993 remains were returned to the United States that were positively identified in 1996 as the crew and passengers from aircraft #67-17499. [Taken from pownetwork.org]

Dear LTC Donald Eugene Parsons, 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