THE WALL OF FACES

After so many years I still cry over the loss of my brother. I miss you so very much. Your Siister Joy

Dear SP4 Ronnie O Bigelow, 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

On February 20, 1968, this aircraft from the 339th Transportation Company was enroute from Nha Trang to Phu Hiep, when it crashed into trees and burned. Conditions at the time consisted of heavy low fog. The two crewmen on the aircraft were pilot CW2 Roy B. Parsons and crew chief SP4 George W. Rushing. There were also nine passengers aboard: MAJ Michael J. McGinnis, SSGT Hurshell H. Gough, SP4 David N. Valerio, SP5 Steven Hernandez, SP5 John A. Bafile, SP4 Michael G. Moharemoff, SP4 Ronnie O. Bigelow, and two civilians. All suffered fatal injuries in the crash. There is a personal account for this incident: I was the first U.S. type on the scene. It was late afternoon when the aircraft was declared missing and we received a message from the ROK troops in the area that there was a Huey crashed near the Vung Ro Bay Pass (now called Ro Bay). The mission was a daily hash and trash run to battalion HQ in Nha Trang. We asked the ROK troops to verify that all souls on board the aircraft were deceased. They came back with the sad news and reported that there had been an aircraft fire. I was on the ROK base at the time relaying messages between the ROK and our unit. I then asked the ROK commander to secure the site so we could assemble a team and go in at first light. The company commander asked me to head up the mission to the site. I ferried the graves registration, accident investigation team, etc. to the ROK outpost in the pass where the AC could be secured. We then traveled by foot path to the site with the ROK providing excellent security. What I found disturbed me greatly because several passengers were severely burned, but CW2 Roy B. Parsons had somehow managed to crawl clear of the fire and expired by a tree. I have spent long hours on the phone with Roy's wife because she had been told he was burned beyond recognition which was totally wrong. His funeral was closed casket and she was not able to see him and whether he was burned or not. Because of feelings for Roy all I will say is that the description of the accident is mostly accurate except and that he was hardly burned. (From Ray Klett, USA retired) [Taken from vhpa.org]

Ronnie was in my basic training class at Fort Lewis, in the winter of 1966. He became a close friend. We didn't know each other prior to enlisting but lived in neighboring small towns and knew many of the same people. His dream was simple. He wanted to be a carpenter. I wish he had made it. Rest well.

Ronnie is buried at Green Mem Park, Sheridan, OR.