THE WALL OF FACES

Dear WO Claud Strother, Thank you for your service as an Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Today is Memorial Day, and we honor you. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Warrant Officer Claud Paul Strother, Served with the 129th Assault Helicopter Company, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade.

Dear WO Claud Paul Strother, 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 27 April 1972 at 0630 hours local, aircraft 68-15426, belonging to the 129th Assault Helicopter Company took off from Lane army heliport on a direct combat support mission in support of the cavalry regiment. The aircraft was commanded by WO1 Claud P. Strother, 459-72-0606, and the co-pilot was 1LT Thomas F. Shaw, 388-50-5291. The aircraft flew normal resupply all morning and refueled at An Khe airfield at approximately 1015 hours. Upon departure from pol the aircraft began a sortie to 1st Company, 1st Battalion located at the summit of the mountain just south of the An Khe pass with 1LT Shaw at the controls. The aircraft low-leveled up the road to the base of the mountain at approximately 90-100 knots and upon reaching the base of the mountain began a climb up to the LZ. Just after initiating the climb the surviving crew members recalled WO1 Strother tell 1LT Shaw to 'get it up'. At this time the aircraft made contact with the ground and 1LT Shaw added collective pitch, applied aft cyclic, and struck the tail rotor on the ground. The aircraft climbed in a sharp right turn, went nose low and struck a tree on the side of the mountain. The aircraft then impacted the ground landing on its nose and came to rest in that position. The aircraft did not burn. Another aircraft from the 129th AHC who had been in radio communication with 426 lost communication, investigated, and saw the aircraft where it came to rest. A medivac ship was summoned and the company commander, MAJ Alan F. Jones, who was in the area, flew to the scene to assist in rescue of the crew. It was apparent upon investigation that the pilot and co-pilot were dead and that the rest of the crew had gotten out of the wreckage. A medivac ship from the 237th medical detachment arrived on the scene and medevac’d the gunner and crew chief to the 133rd Medical Detachment in Qui Nhon. They then returned and picked up the bodies of WO1 Strother, 1LT Shaw and two Koreans who were also killed in the crash and took them to graves registration in Qui Nhon. [Taken from vhpa.org]

Claud is buried at Greenlawn Memorial Park, Groves, Jefferson County,TX. BSM AM-6OLC PH