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 PO1C Richard Sandifer, Thank you for your service as an Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st Class on the USS CONSTELLATION. Your 54th anniversary just passed, sad. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Thanksgiving is this week. Time moves quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

I didn't know you for very long, as you only checked into VAH-8 a day or two before we lost you. I do remember how very happy you were to be back in a Heavy Attack squadron after a tour with (Constellation's ship's company?). You bought a brand new watch (a SEIKO?) just before your first flight with us and asked me to hold onto it until after your flight (you didn't want to scratch it up). Over the years I have remembered you often, though I didn't know where you were laid to rest. Now that I know, I promise to visit.

On November 3, 1967, the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) was conducting night air combat operations on Yankee Station, about fifty miles off the coast of North Vietnam. At approximately 7:22 PM, a Douglas KA-3B Skywarrior modified for tanker duty attempted a launch off the carrier. Movement and acceleration down the catapult track appeared normal for about ninety feet when sparks were suddenly seen coming from the aft nose section of the jet. The Skywarrior decelerated for the remainder of the travel down the track. It left the carrier in a wings-level, nose slightly low attitude without sufficient velocity for a successful launch and subsequently impacted the water off the port bow. When the spray cleared, the tail of the aircraft was visible above the water, but the jet submerged almost immediately and sank in 192 feet of water. An extensive search was conducted by Naval destroyers USS O’Bannon (DD-450) and USS Leonard F. Mason (DD-852) which resulted in the recovery of the body of crewman ADJ1 Richard W. Sandifer. One helmet and various aircraft debris was also located. Pilot LCDR Peter H. Krusi and navigator LTJG Hans H. Grauert were not found. Search and recovery efforts were later terminated with both missing crewmen were presumed dead. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

I remember you forever