THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. We should be forever thankful for the sacrifices of you and so many others to ensure the freedoms we so often take for granted.

Dear SSgt Curtis Stieferman, Thank you for your service as a Loadmaster. I researched you on the 55th anniversary of the start of your tour. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. The 47th anniversary of the last battle of the war just passed. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

On October 25, 1967, a U.S. Air Force Republic F-105D Thunderchief (#59-1737) from the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron was landing in marginal weather on runway 25L at Tan Son Nhut Air Base when it collided with a USAF C-123K Provider (#54-0667) from the 310th Air Commando Squadron. The Provider was about to take off for its return flight to Phan Rang when the pilot saw a huge thunderstorm directly in its path and decided to abort the flight. He was observed to taxi along the runway to return to the parking area and had covered about 2,000 feet when the tower warned him to clear the runway immediately. However, before the Provider could turn off the runway, it was hit by the Thunderchief as it landed in poor visibility. The F-105's starboard wing sliced through the left side of the C-123's fuselage, the jet's fuselage tearing off both the Provider's engines from its port wing. The Thunderchief pilot, MAJ Aquilla F. Britt, was unable to eject and died in the crash as his F-105 cart-wheeled 5000-feet down the runway. MAJ Britt, who had just completed his 100th mission, was 5 days from returning to the U.S. The C-123 crew survived the collision, but one crewmember died a few days later. Loadmaster SSGT Curtis E. Stieferman exited the Provider which was engulfed in flames; however, he reportedly returned to the blazing wreck to save a crewmember and inhaled flames and was extensively burned. He died November 4, 1967. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, baaa-acro.com, c123sinsea.org, and aviation-safety.net]

Dear SSGT Curtis Edward Stieferman, 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

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