THE WALL OF FACES

On June 27, 1965 a C-123 operated on a night mission from Nha Trang to Saigon with 14 "Chinese Nationalists" on board. The two American crewmen consisted of pilot and aircraft commander CAPT Carl E. Jackson and loadmaster SSGT Billie L. Roth. The C-123 had been used on a MACV-SOG mission. The Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observation Group (MACV-SOG), was a joint service high command unconventional warfare task force engaged in highly classified operations throughout Southeast Asia. The aircraft had no standard markings on it, but was painted with a unique camo pattern of low-reflectivity black, green and brown paint. The aircraft was rigged with pylons on it. All aircraft were sanitized as well as the nationality and individuality of those on board. While on approach, the C-123 started receiving ground-fire and subsequently crashed. The crash occurred at 2245 hours, 5 miles south of Bien Hoa. Rescue crews arrived at the scene and found that there were no survivors. Immediately MACV SOG took charge and sent out an aircraft recovery team. Three bodies were removed, but CAPT Jackson’s and SSGT Roth’s bodies were not recovered. Forty Popular Forces personnel and two sergeants were sent to protect the crash site. The FBI was brought in to fingerprint all on board however, and none of the bodies could be identified as either of the two U.S. crewmen. [Taken from pownetwork.org and talkingproud.us]

Dear SSGT Billie Leroy Roth, 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, Sir

Curt Carter

I miss my daddy .He did the most honorable thing .

Billie has a military marker in his honor at Lacon Cemetery, Lacon,IL.

FOREVER REMEMBERED

"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them....
Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind...."

Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell
KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces.

We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you, one of the gentle heroes lost to the War in Vietnam:

Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul ... and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.

From your Nam-Band-Of-Brothers