THE WALL OF FACES

Say not in grief he is no more, but live in thankfulness that he was.

Dear WO Milton Remmler, Thank you for your service as an Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot with the 1st Cavalry. I researched you on your 73rd birthday, happy birthday. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Yesterday was the 57th anniversary of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Remembering the Sacrifice of a Home Town Boy , a Back Home School Boy . We Honor " One of Ours" God Bless Milton

I'll never forget that day when you and 7 others paid the ultimate sacriface so that I could return home to my family.

On May 4, 1969, a mid-air collision occurred involving two on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1Hs, tail numbers 67-19529 and 67-17818, both from B Company, 227th Aviation Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. The aircraft were on a short final to an LZ about 6 miles north-northwest of Bien Hoa when the accident took place. Aircraft 529 was crewed by commander 1LT James P. Flagella, pilot WO1 Milton W. Remmler Jr., crew chief SGT Don L. Ross, and gunner SGT Norman L. Plemmons. Helicopter 818 contained aircraft commander WO1 Michael E. LeMaster, pilot 1LT William D. Britton, crew chief SGT Robert L. Thomas, and gunner SGT Billy R. Stubbs. The two aircraft had departed Di An about the same time and joined into formation. At the time of impact, the board of inquiry determined that 818 was leading and 529 was flying right echelon. Helicopter 529 called 818 and said that they were going to pass them. As 529 attempted to pass on the right, 818's main rotor blade contacted 529's mast. The force of this contact and a possible sudden stoppage of 529's main rotor caused 529's transmission to be ripped out towards the front. Severe vibrations, including mast bumping, separated 529's main rotor blade from the transmission. About the time of impact, one tip of 529's main rotor blade struck 818's main rotor hub. After initial impact, the main rotor blade of 818 continued on to knock the left pilot's door of 529 loose and decapitated the pilot of 818. After the main rotor and transmission separated from 529, it crashed and burned killing all on board. After the initial midair contact, one blade of 818's main rotor blade lost a sizeable piece of honeycomb. This created an out of balance condition which added to the severe vibration that followed. The vibration caused loss of control and the aircraft started to shake itself apart. The tail boom separated from the fuselage, the mast bumping caused the main rotor to come off the mast. Helicopter 818 then crashed and burned, killing all four crew members. [Taken from vhpa.org]