THE WALL OF FACES

There is a place
Not far from here
Where spirits walk
And heroes live
And honor still resides.

It is a wall
With names inscribed
Of those who served
When they were asked...
The brothers of my youth.

I go there still
To walk and think
About my life,
And what I've done since
And things that might have been.

There is a debt
I can't repay
Too many lives were spent.
And one man's life cannot suffice
To make their deaths worthwhile.

But there is hope
In the memory
Of those we leave behind
Who know the price that freedom brings
Who can carry on in kind.

I send you now
To touch a name
So the vision can be passed
Remember there is honor still
It is for you to see it lasts.

They are not dead
And have a wish
As all old soldiers do
The reflection you see before you now
Is their wish to live in you.

Dear Cpl Thomas Rogers, Thank you for your service as a Helicopter Power Plant Mechanic. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is Agent Orange Awareness month. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance, and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

CPL Thomas F. Rogers Jr. served as a crew chief on a CH-46D helicopter from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (HMM-262), Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39). On November 17, 1969, his CH-46D (#153961) was on standby for medical evacuation when a call came in to assist Republic of Korea (ROK) Marines who were pinned down six miles northeast of Thang Binh in Quang Tin Province, RVN, and in need of an emergency medivac. A second chase aircraft was launched on the mission. While over the pick-up zone, they were informed there were five wounded ROK Marines and that the zone was very hot. Two UH-1 gunships were providing cover fire when Rogers’ helicopter went in for the extraction. The crew of the chase aircraft circling above saw dust from a mortar round that exploded on the left side of their bird as all gunners on the medivac were returning fire with their .50 caliber machine guns. The pilot reported that they had been hit and the chase bird ordered them out of the pick-up zone. The medivac, which had taken 24 hits from .30 enemy rounds, lifted up with smoke bellowing from underneath. The helicopter banked sharp to the right, only 100 feet off the ground. The battle damage forced it to set down on a nearby beach where the chase aircraft also put down. Rogers, critically wounded in the chest, was transferred to the chase aircraft with three other injured crewmen and some of the ROK Marines. The crew chief of the chase bird vigorously administered rescue breaths to Rogers as they flew to Marble Mountain Air Facility; however, he and one of the ROK Marines expired during the flight. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Randy J. Tolman (August 2003) at popasmoke.com]

Cpl Thomas F. Rogers is buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Van Buren County, TN. (Coffelt Database, 2019-08-21).

Thomas Franklin Rogers

Distinguished Flying Cross
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Corporal
GENERAL ORDERS:
Award Reported in Leatherneck Magazine
CITATION:
SYNOPSIS: Corporal Thomas Franklin Rogers, Jr., United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in Southeast Asia.