THE WALL OF FACES

You died with my friend, Captain Earl. R. Michael, over a battle field in 1968 in Vietnam in a horrible mid-air helicopter and FAC collision. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. I never met you, but you are not forgotten.

On the morning of 13 June 1968 Company A, 4th Battalion 3rd Infantry, Americal Division made contact with an unknown sized enemy force. The Battalion Commander, the S-2 and LT Phillips (the Battalion Forward Observer from Headquarters and Service Battery, 6th Battalion, 11th Artillery) were in a Command and Control Helicopter hovering over the infantry unit’s position coordinating the mission. The helicopter was involved in a mid-air collision with an Air Force 0-2 Forward Air Controller (FAC) that was climbing out after firing a marking rocket to mark enemy positions for an ARVN unit in an adjacent Area of Operations. All seven men on board the helicopter perished in the incident.

I know you and Cotton are riding through endless fields of green. I'll see you again one day, until then, ride on in peace.

Mike's Photo - Class 24-66 Artillery O.C.S., Ft. Sill, OK - 11 Oct 1966

Mike,

I still remember the date of 13 June ...... long ago.
Rest well, pal, and remember the great times in O.C.S. and Hawaii.
"On Time", as we said in the 6/11 Artillery.

Jim