THE WALL OF FACES

On December 17, 1968, a USAF Fairchild C-123K Provider (#54-0708) from the 309th Special Operations Squadron with 44 persons onboard crashed shortly after takeoff from Chu Lai Air Base after reportedly encountering an engine failure following fuel transfer problems. Three crewmen and nine passengers were killed in the crash. The lost crewmen included aircraft commander LTC Richard A. Brown, co-pilot 1LT Roger H. Strout, and flight engineer SSGT Jesse J. Bradshaw. The lost passengers were U.S. Army personnel: 1LT John A. Blaco Jr., PFC Bradley J. Bourque, SGT Ramon Castro-Morales, CPT Richard C. Drewes, CPT John K. Hayward, CWO John P. Koob, 1LT John D. Krouslis, SSGT Wallace F. Simpkin, and CPT Morton H. Singer. Five other passengers died subsequent to the injuries they received. They included two Marines, SGT Mancol R. Clifton, who died the following day due to burns he suffered; and PVT George W. Brown, who passed away January 13, 1969, also from burns. The three other lost passengers were soldiers: SP4 Dennis G. Benson, who died December 23, 1968, from burns after being evacuated to a burn unit at the 106th Army General Hospital in Yokohama, Japan; SFC Richard H. Sweger, who died January 2, 1969, from bilateral pneumonia due to his injuries; and SP4 Henry E. Russell, who died May 7, 1969, after spending 135 days at Brooke Army General Hospital at Fort Sam Houston, TX, where he was being treated for burns he suffered over 35% of his body. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and aviation-safety.net]

I can recall a few runs up MB4 with Captain Singer. He ran every Sunday with the OCS candidates eliminating their punishment demerits. He was an outstanding soldier and Rabbi.

Joe Wildberg,
LTC FA USAR (Ret)

I still remember the toy cannon he sent me when I was four years old (1966) that said Fort Sill on it.

Dear Captain Morton Harold Singer, 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

I believe Rabbi Singer guided and saved me while we were both serving at Fort Sill, OK, 1967. Can someone verify that the Captain did serve at Fort Sill?