THE WALL OF FACES

War drew us from our homeland
In the sunlit springtime of our youth.
Those who did not come back alive remain
in perpetual springtime -- forever young --
And a part of them is with us always.

Dear Sp4 Rex Rader, Thank you for your service as an UH-1 Helicopter Repairer. I researched you on your 72nd birthday, happy birthday. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is Independence Day week. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

“Copter Rips Into Saigon Traffic.” Pacific Stars & Stripes, Thursday, April 3, 1969. The article makes reference to lost crewmen CW2 Michael G. Taylor, WO1 Dale A. Yateman, SP4 Philip C. Stafford, and SP4 Barry L. Golden, and passengers SP5 Terry W. Dickerhoff and SP5 Rex E. Rader.

On April 1, 1969, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H (tail number 66-17042) from the120th Command Aviation Company, "The Underdogs,". crashed shortly after takeoff from Tan Son Nhut Air Base Complex in Gia Dinh Province, RVN. Six U.S. personnel perished in the crash, including the entire crew of the aircraft plus two passengers aboard. There were three survivors. The lost crewmen included aircraft commander CW2 Michael G. Taylor, pilot WO1 Dale A. Yateman, crew chief SP4 Philip C. Stafford, and gunner SP4 Barry L. Golden. The lost passengers were SP5 Terry W. Dickerhoff and SP5 Rex E. Rader. The flight had just departed from Hotel 3 Heliport at Tan Son Nhut and climbed to approximately 500 feet of altitude when it suffered an engine failure. The pilots attempted autorotation, however, the autorotation was unsuccessful, ending in a crash and fire. The main rotor blade of the helicopter struck a telephone pole before the aircraft made ground contact, with the tail striking first, severing the tail boom. The fuselage section continued forward, coming to rest on its right side and completely engulfed in flames. Two bodies were discovered outside the wreckage along the path of the aircraft. [Taken from vhpa.org]

Dear SP5 Rex Earl Rader, 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