THE WALL OF FACES

I was a better friend of your older brother but I do remember you as you played pigs nuckles with us once in a while. Jeff Terrell

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

DEAR WARRANT OFFICER BOWEN,
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE AS AN UTILITY & LIGHT CARGO SINGLE ROTOR HELICOPTER PILOT WITH THE 1ST CAVALRY. MIKE WAS 1ST CAV, SAY HI TO HIM. TODAY IS THE 42ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE MAYAQUEZ INCIDENT - THE LAST BIG BATTLE OF THE WAR BIG SIGH. 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.

Dear WO Ralph Edward Bowen, 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

On October 5, 1967, U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-16803, a new UH-1H, was in service to 227 CAB 1 CAV. On that day, while flying in trail formation on a final approach at approximately 100 feet altitude, the aircraft suddenly pitched up to 90 degrees nose high attitude, then rolled right, then inverted, crashing and burning in a troop area. The suspected cause of the accident was a trunnion bearing failure on the main rotor pitch control. The crash resulted in fatal injuries for the crewmen: aircraft commander WO1 Ralph E. Bowen, pilot WO1 Donald R. Phipps, crew chief PFC Stanley R. Uding, and gunner CPL Gary L. Holz. [Taken from vhpa.org]