THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. While all deaths in war are tragic that you perished so late in this war is especially so. May you rest in eternal peace.

Lived in Art's neighborhood, always bouncing a basketball. Hit the winning shot for Comets to get to Sweet Sixteen, as a sophomore. Always cool. Summer escape with Reeves, Siebert to Colorado. Always seemed to know what he was doing. A real loss to family and the USA. Not forgotten, "Archy".

THANK YOU, for serving in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. Your sacrifice will not be in vain as I will do my part in keeping your memory alive.

DEAR CAPTAIN BOLLINGER,
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A NAVIGATOR. I AM GLAD YOU WERE IDENTIFIED IN 1995. IT HAS BEEN FAR TOO LONG FOR ALL OF YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND YOUR SACRIFICE. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE. YOU ARE ALL IN OUR PRAYERS. IT WAS JUST EASTER - GOD'S BLESSINGS ON YOU.

I will write this to the very best of my recollection. I was (then) First Lieutenant Arthur Bollinger's Instructor Navigator at DaNang AB, RVN in the EC-47 before he was transferred to NKP not too long before the end of the war. These moves were pretty common at that point as drawdown was happening. He was a superb officer and also worked in the Awards and Decorations and OER/APR section in the 362nd TEWS of which I was in charge. If I recall correctly, he had a wife and child, possibly more than one. I was certainly devastated when I heard that this great young officer had been shot down. I, too, was flying during that week when his aircraft was destroyed. It was on one mission in that week that I was awarded the DFC for a mission Southwest of Hue when the AAA had us boxed in. I located the exact positions, but there was little that could be done, and only the EC-47s were still flying combat missions. All armed aircraft had been pulled out, and we were "Unarmed, Alone, and Afraid," to the max. To anyone who reads this, I attest that Captain Bollinger was a great man and I am proud to have known him. Hand Salute!