THE WALL OF FACES

Lanesville is in the town of Hunter, absolutely not town of Shandaken. Harry grew up and went to Hunter-Tannerville School. A kind and handsome guy who was loved by many.

My name is Paul and I work in the office of New York State Assemblymember Kevin Cahill. Our office is planning an event to honor those who were killed in Vietnam that were from our district, which encompasses most of Ulster County and Northern Dutchess. As such, we are hoping to get in touch with any of the surviving family members or close friends of this individual. Should anyone that reads this know how to contact them, we would greatly appreciate it if, with the family or friend’s permission, we could be given a means of reaching out to them. Our office can be contacted by phone at 845-338-9610 or email at [email protected] Thank you.

Bien Hoa Air Base was military airfield located sixteen miles northeast of Saigon in Bien Hoa Province, RVN. The U.S. used it as a major base from 1961 through 1973, stationing Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine units there. On the night of November 1, 1964, a Viet Cong (VC) mortar team penetrated the base perimeter and launched a 30-minute barrage on the airfield, destroying five B-57B Canberra tactical bombers, three A-1H Skyraider attack aircraft, and one HH-43 rescue helicopter, and damaging thirteen B-57s, three A-1Hs, three HH-43s, and two C-47 transport aircraft. Several of the rounds landed in the 118th Assault Helicopter Company compound, killing three UH-1 helicopter repairers and one food service worker. They included mechanics PFC Richard P. Bubar, SP4 Ronald T. O'Keefe, and SP4 Harry J. Sickler, and cook PFC Thomas J. Hanley. Seventy-two other Americans were injured, including one critically and two seriously, plus fifteen more requiring hospitalization. Two Vietnamese nationals also died in the barrage. A memorial service for the four men killed at Bien Hoa and a fifth killed in a separate incident was held on the November 2nd.The five flag-draped coffins were placed in the chapel of the Tan Son Nhut Airbase outside Saigon for the ceremony before the bodies were flown back to the United States. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, wikipedia.org, and “U.S. casualties rise to 76.” Kokomo Morning Times (Kokomo, IN), November 4, 1964]

Dear Sp4 Harry Sickler, Thank you for your service as a Huey, UH-1 Helicopter Repairer. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Happy Valentine’s Day. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Specialist Four Harry Joseph Sickler, Served with the 573rd Transportation Detachment, 118th Assault Helicopter Company, 145th Aviation Battalion, United States Army Support Command Vietnam, United States Army Vietnam.