THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir.The remembrance from your brother Eddie is touching and reflects his admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

Dear Cap. Gary Riggins, Thank you for your service as a Rotary Wing Aviation Unit Commander - Helicopter Pilot. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. The 20th anniversary of 9/11 is soon, and still very sad. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

On October 7, 1964, Captain Gary Riggins was the pilot of a UH-1B Huey helicopter of the 118th Assault Helicopter Company (AHC) that was shot down in Long Khanh Province, approximately 17 kilometers southeast of Xuan Loc Airfield. Also on board were PFC Thomas Bain, the door gunner; MAJ Durward Gosney, an Army advisor; WO James Havemann, the aircraft commander; and SP4 Delbert La Flemme, the chief engineer. The Huey had been operating in support of an ARVN battalion that had been ambushed by a strong Viet Cong force. As the Viet Cong threatened to overwhelm the ARVN unit, the aircraft began leading strikes against the hostile force. The Viet Cong retaliated with an onslaught of heavy automatic weapons fire. Despite the increased volume of fire, the aircraft made three separate and effective strikes on enemy positions until it was hit by ground fire and crashed in flames, killing the five Americans on board.

Captain Gary Ronald Riggins from Yreka, California was a Rotary Wing Aviation Unit Commander assigned to 118th AHC, 145th Aviation Battalion, US Army Support Command Vietnam, MACV. CPT Riggins was a 30 year old married father of four daughters when he died.

Dear Gary, on Oct. 8, 1961 you stood next to me as my Best Man on my wedding day and three years later you were taken from our family. After 51 years I still miss my big brother. I wish my children could have had the opportunity to know what a great guy their Uncle was. When you died, my son, Randy was only 1 year old and although he never knew you, when he became a father, he named his son Gary, so there is still a Gary Riggins in our family only now he is my Grandson.
Our family all miss you.
Your brother, Eddie

ALTOUGH I HAVE NO MEMORY OF YOU, I KNOW THAT EVERY ONE YOU TUCHED IS A BETTER PERSON. I MISS YOU MORE EVERY DAY BUT HAVE LEARN TO CARRY ON AS YOU WOULD WANT US TO. YOURE SON HAS TURN OUT TO BE A GREAT MAN LIKE HIS FATHER AND WORKS HARD TO LIVE UP TO YOURE NAME. YOURE OTHER 3 DAUGHTERS ARE HAPPY AND PROUD OF ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR COUNTRY. I WISH YOU DID NOT HAVE TO HAVE GIVEN ALL , WE ALL LOVE YOU AND WILL NEVER FORGET YOU. FOREVER LOVE RICK, KANDIE , SANDIE , JERRI-MAE AND TERRI. WE MISS YOU DAD