THE WALL OF FACES

Radio Research Units (RRU’s) operated in Vietnam under the direction of the U.S. Army Security Agency and conducted classified missions. Their work included intercepting radio communications of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army, then forwarding the captured intelligence to division commanders in pursuit of their tactical war-fighting operations. The airborne platforms for RRU’s included Project Left Bank UH-1H helicopters configured with radio direction finding equipment. The ships were unarmed except for personal weapons and maintained a crew of four, two pilots and two Radio Intercept Operators. They tracked the enemy via radio transmissions intercepts and fixed their locations with triangulation. This required slow flying with many turning patterns. During one such radio direction finding mission on November 29, 1969, a Left Bank flight from the 11th General Support Aviation Company at Phouc Vinh flying in support of the 371st Radio Research Company was brought down by enemy fire six miles northwest of Song Be in Phuoc Long Province, RVN. The helicopter went low, purportedly to treetop level to drop a smoke grenade on the enemy position for the “Pink Team” hunter-killer aircraft covering them, when they were caught in the crossfire of enemy .51 caliber machine guns; however, it was a rocket-propelled grenade round through the chin bubble that brought the aircraft down. There were no survivors. The lost crew included aircraft commander CW2 Jack D. Knepp, pilot WO1 Dennis D. Bogle, and Radio Intercept Operators SP4 James R. Smith and PFC Henry N. Heide II. The post-crash fire destroyed the helicopter and made identifying remains difficult for the aero rifle team sent to secure the site. A Pink Team AH-1G Cobra (#68-15188) aircraft B Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, covering the flight was also shot down in the hail of fire, resulting in further casualties. WO1 Kenneth A. Luse and CW2 Lawrence J. Babyak died when their Cobra crashed after sustaining .51 caliber hits while trying to suppress the enemy fire near the downed Left Bank flight. Luce was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. U.S. Air Force jets were scrambled and napalmed the area to keep the classified out of enemy hands. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vhpa.org]

Dear Sp4 James Smith, Thank you for your service as an EW/Sigint Morse Interceptor. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Spring has begun, and it's Lent. Time moves quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

We were in the same 05H20 class at Fort Devons, MA and four weeks at Two Rock Ranch in CA before we left for Vietnam. Jim, you were outgoing, friendly, just a great guy. Word of your death reached me in Phu Bai in December, 1969. Heartbreaking news especially because you were one of the married guys. You will never be forgotten by me.

Specialist Four James Ronald Smith, Served with the 371st Radio Research Company, 509th United States Army Security Agency Group, United States Army Security Agency, United States Army Vietnam.

We were in the 371st Ops Building - we talked business for a few minutes - then we joked around and had a few laughs. The next day the 371st lost you and Hank ... I will never forget you and the heroic missions you performed. Rest in peace my friend.