THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

Dear PO2C Fidel Salazar, Thank you for your service as a Steward 2nd Class with the USS CONSTELLATION. You are still MIA. Please come home. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Veterans’ Day is today. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance, and faithfulness, especially now. Be at peace.

As your 85th birthday approaches, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

POW-MIA...Never Forget

Semper Fortis

On October 2, 1969, a Grumman C-2 Greyhound cargo aircraft from Reserve Cargo Squadron 50 departed Cubi Point Naval Air Station, Republic of the Philippines on a shuttle flight to various aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin in Vietnam, including the USS Constellation, the USS Walker, the USS Hammer, and the USS Long Beach. The flight crew onboard the aircraft, assigned to Fleet Support Squadron 50 based in Atsugi Naval Air Station, Japan, included the pilot LT Herbert H. Dilger, co-pilot LT Richard A. Livingston, air crewman ADJ3 Paul K. Moser, aircraft captain ADJ3 Michael J. Tye, and loadmaster-trainee AMS3 Rayford J. Hill. The following passengers were aborad the flight: AME3 Terry L. Beck, ATR3 Richard W. Bell, ASE3 Michael L. Bowman, Frank Bytheway, PN1 Rolando C. Dayao, HM2 Donald C. Dean, AMH2 Carl J. Ellerd, AE2 James J. Fowler, HM3 Roy G. Fowler, YNC Leonardo M. Gan, MM1 Paul E. Gore, ABH3 William D. Gorsuch, AMS3 Delvin L. Kohler, AN Howard M. Koslosky, FTM2 Robert B. Leonard, AQB2 Ronald W. Montgomery, MM2 William R. Moore, ADJ2 Kenneth M. Prentice, SD2 Fidel G. Salazar, DS3 Keavin L. Terrell, ADJ3 Michael J. Tye, and TN Reynaldo R. Viado. Most of the twenty passengers appeared to have been bound for the USS Constellation, but one was bound for the USS Long Beach, and one of the four Philippine citizens on board was headed for the USS Hammer, and two to the USS Walker. The aircraft was inbound to the Constellation and made communication at about 0600 hours, reporting that operations were normal. When communications were established with the Carrier Air Control, control was passed to the Marshall controller (Approach Control). The carrier's radar continued tracking the aircraft until approximately 0655, at which time radar contact was lost at about 10 nautical miles from the Constellation. Helicopter search and rescue efforts were immediately initiated from the ship. The helicopter began sighting an oil slick and debris. A few pieces of aircraft were recovered, and analysis of this debris indicated that the aircraft was in a relatively high speed nose down, right wing down impact with the water or had a possible right wing failure before impact. There was no sign of survivors, nor were any bodies recovered. The crew and passengers onboard the C-2 which went down on October 2, 1969 were all declared Killed/Body Not Recovered. There is very little hope that they will ever be found. They are listed with honor among the missing because no remains were ever located to repatriate to their homeland. [Narrative taken from pownetwork.org; image from wikipedia.org]

Dear SD2 Fidel Garcia Salazar, 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, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter