THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from Jonathan Buck is touching. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever.

Staff Sergeant Milard Luther Eugene Bledsoe, Served with the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron, 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force.

DEAR STAFF SERGEANT BLEDSOE,
I HOPE YOUR PHOTO GETS PUT HERE BECAUSE THIS WALL OF FACES REALLY NEEDS YOURS. THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE WITH THE AIR FORCE. I DO NOT KNOW YOUR MOS, BUT I READ YOU WERE FLIGHT CREW. IT HAS BEEN FAR TOO LONG FOR ALL OF YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND YOUR SACRIFICE. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE.. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE. MANY OF US HAVE BEGUN OUR JOURNEY TO EASTER. AND YOU ARE ALL IN OUR PRAYERS.

On October 10, 1968, a U.S. Air Force helicopter HH-43B Huskie (tail number 58-1845), callsign Pedro 44, assigned to Detachment 1, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (38th ARRS) at Phan Rang Air Base in Ninh Thuan Province, RVN, was scrambled with the fire suppression kit (FSK) to standby for the emergency landing of a B-57. Pedro 44 entered a left-hand climbing turn over the airfield when it crashed and burned, killing all five crewmembers. The lost crew included pilots MAJ Donald R. Brooks and CAPT Von M. Liebernecht, and crewmen SSGT Milard L.E. Bledsoe, TSGT Angel Luna, and TSGT Emmett S. Orr. [Taken from wikipedia.org and vhpa.org]

I remember the night of Oct 10 1968. Of the 19 months this was truly the saddest day of the Viet Nam tour .The 2 Fireman who died in the crash were the highest quality that America had to offer . I often think of their families having to go on without them. They both will be remembered by their fellow fireman as the best of the best. I am so proud to have served with SSGT Bledsole and SSGT Orr