THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever.

On July 4, 1968, two U.S. Army OH-6A helicopters from D Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division, were involved in a mid-air collision six miles northeast of Lai Khe in Binh Duong Province, RVN. Five persons were killed in the accident, including D Troop’s Commanding Officer, MAJ Frederick G. Terry Jr., and a D Troop artillery liaison officer, 1LT Daniel N. Glowacki. The other lost personnel were 1LT Raymond P. Bosworth Jr., SP5 Larry E. Collier, and SP4 Dirk J. Westra. Terry's mission was to fly the Command and Control OH-6A ship (#67-16018) for the helicopters of D Troop, 1/4 Cav, which were supporting a mechanized infantry (2nd Battalion [Mechanized], 2nd Infantry). At approximately 8:10 AM, Bosworth, flying an OH-6A helicopter (#66-7854), departed Lai Khe for the same area of operations to serve as Scout Team leader. At 8:50 AM, the command vehicle of company B Company, 2nd Bn (Mech), 2nd Inf, hit a mine injuring five personnel. Terry monitored the ground units' call for a "dustoff" medical evacuation helicopter and proceeded to the area. Terry also called Bosworth on the radio and requested that he proceed to the same area with his Scout Team. Bosworth entered an area approximately three miles to the east of where the vehicle hit the mine. Meanwhile, Terry's helicopter was flying in the same general direction as Bosworth's helicopter but to the left rear and approximately fifty feet higher and descending at a greater speed than Bosworth's helicopter. When Bosworth's helicopter suddenly completed a 180-degree right turn, Terry's helicopter overtook it and they collided. Both aircraft crashed to the ground, Terry's helicopter approximately 135 feet from the other aircraft. Glowacki and Collier died on impact with Terry; Westra and Bosworth perished after their OH-6A caught fire and burned. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vhpa.org]

It is because of young men like you, that we are free to celebrate a day like today. So on this Independence Day, I just want to thank you once again for your service and your sacrifice. You are loved. You are missed. You are remembered always.

DEAR LIEUTENANT BOSWORTH,
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A ROTARY WING AVIATION UNIT COMMANDER - HELICOPTER PILOT. FRANKIE ALSO WAS KILLED ON THE 4TH, SAY HI TO HIM. SUNDAY WAS THE 42ND ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT FORD CALLING THIS DAY THE OFFICIAL END TO THE WAR. IF IT WAS ONLY THAT EASY. I AM SO SORRY. 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.

Ray was a special man. Kept me out of trouble at OCS. Helped me make it thru. Also, saw Ray at Fort Wolters while he was in flight school in 1967. I think of Ray just about everyday.