THE WALL OF FACES

Remember to save for them a place inside of you, and save one backward glance when you are leaving, for the places they can no longer go...

Dear WO Michael Stacy, Thank you for your service as an Utility & Light Cargo Single Rotor Helicopter Pilot. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Happy Spring. Time moves quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Just submitted a photo of Mike and I the day we graduated from flight school at Ft. Rucker, AL, July 1968. We had been Warrant Officers about an hour when this photo was taken. Mike is on the left.

Mike and met in the first days of flight school at Ft. Wolters, TX. We became close friends almost immediately. I don't know how that happens but we just hit off. We played basketball together on the 6th WOC team, both starters.

We never had much of a problem with flight training except for Mike's unfortunate tendency to puke when he got off the ground in primary training :-) It was funny until it became clear it was a real problem and might get him washed out. With his usual humor and good cheer he overcame it and was able to pass primary and move on to advanced training.

It seems like all of my remembrances of flight school good times were with Mike. Parties with TCU coeds in Ft. Worth and stewardesses in Dallas were very good times indeed.

I was on R&R in Hong Kong when I called home. My Dad insisted that I call back just before my flight back to Vietnam. I thought it was a little strange but I made the call the night before I left. That's when he told me Mike had been killed in a Cobra crash. My family had been at our graduation and had gotten to Mike over that weekend. They were nearly as crushed as I was. Dad knew what an impact it would have on me and didn't want to ruin my R&R. That's why he insisted I call back. I got so drunk that night I don't remember getting back to Vietnam. Nothing. don't know how I got to the R&R center or to the airport or on the plane. I was still drunk when I got off the plane. It was one of the worst days of my life.

Mike was a good guy and the best friend you could have. I miss him a lot.

J.C. Pennington

Always wondered happen to you? Then I heard you joined Army and was flying helicopters. This is your buddy Gary, where we attended Morehead State University,Ky. For awhile together. I went with Pam Adkins and you liked her sister Janey. Boy we did like to party maybe too much. In 69" I joined the Marines. Red told me how to find you. I know you up there showing the Angels how to fly. LOL. RIP Mike . Semper Fi Gary I ' m glad I found you today.

On March 15, 1969, at 1850 hours, a light fire team lined up (perpendicular to) on the runway at Tan An Airfield, RVN for takeoff. As the tower cleared the team to leave, the lead ship turned left and took off. In the second ship, an AH-1G (serial number 67-15792), was piloted by WO1 Lindsey and co-piloted by WO1 Michael L. Stacy. WO1 Stacey, who was sitting in the front seat, said "I've got it," and picked up the aircraft and began a left pedal turn into the wind prior to take off. As the aircraft turned left the rpm began to bleed off. As the RPM reached 6000, the aircraft began to yaw to the right. At this time the aircraft was still over the runway. The co-pilot on the controls was not an AH-1G qualified pilot, and the pilot in the back, WO1 Lindsey, was AH-1G qualified. The corrective action at this time should have been a hovering autorotation or at least putting the aircraft on the ground. WO1 Lindsey allowed WO1 Stacy to continue his take off and the aircraft continued to yaw to the right and as power was increased. The RPM continued to bleed off to about 5000 rpm. The aircraft was over a minefield laced with barbed wire so it was not practical to set the aircraft down at this time. With insufficient RPM for flight, the aircraft fell to the ground moving left (facing east). The main rotor blades flexed down to a point where they came in contact with the cockpit. Both pilots were struck on the head by the main rotor blade, causing fatal injuries to WO1 Stacy. The aircraft then rolled over on its left side as the main rotor and yoke assembly were sheared from the mast. [Taken from vhpa.org]