THE WALL OF FACES

1LT William D. Schlutter was a helicopter pilot serving with the Aviation Section of Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division, U.S. Army Republic of Vietnam. On March 17, 1971, Schlutter began his day at 7:00 AM departing Quang Tri Airfield in Quang Tri Province, RVN, in a Bell OH-58A Kiowa (#68-16884) light observation helicopter. He flew various missions in support of units of the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division, with several stops for fuel and another for lunch. At approximately 1:00 PM, Schlutter picked up commanding officer LTC Bryan J. Sutton and operations officer MAJ Ronald O. Scharnberg of 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, for a Command & Control mission flight. The ship was last seen at approximately 1:45 PM at a field location four miles to the northwest of Ham Nghi. At that time, Schlutter was reported to be in good spirits with no sign of fatigue. He departed the location with Sutton and Scharnberg and flew off to the southwest. Thirty minutes later, a survey team from the 108th Artillery Group working northwest of Ham Nghi spotted Schlutter’s Kiowa burning on a mountain. Elements of D Troop, 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment were notified and rerouted a helicopter conducting a visual reconnaissance to the area for search and rescue. The burning aircraft was located; however, they found it to be destroyed with no survivors. The remains of the pilot and his two passengers were later recovered. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vhpa.org]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. We should be forever thankful for the sacrifices of you and so many others to ensure the freedoms we so often take for granted.

Dear Maj Ronald Scharnberg, Thank you for your service as a Special Forces Qualified Infantry Unit Commander. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Happy Holidays. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

A classmate in undergraduate school whose sacrifice still is remembered and honored.

My dad Lt Col Bryan Sutton was with you in the helicopter when it crashed. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about my dad. Thank you for your service. You are not forgotten.
Pamela Sutton Schlosser