THE WALL OF FACES

Some may think you are forgotten
Though on earth you are no more
But in our memory you are with us
As you always were before….

Dear SFC Yoshio Takehara, Thank you for your service as a CH-47 Helicopter Repairer. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Today is the last day of spring. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Dear SFC Yoshio Takehara, 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 15 February 1971 at 1955 hours U.S. Army helicopter CH-47C tail number 68-15835, containing crew members CAPT Gerald P. Wick, CW2 William D. Sapp, crew chief SFC Yoshio Takehara, gunner CPL Larry F. Ott, and crewman SP6 Richard N. Bruso, transmitted a message to its operations that it had just picked up to go out for a hover check. According to testimony, the aircraft moved from the Alpha Company area to an open field next to the maintenance area where hover tests are normally performed. After approximately 15 minutes of hovering, the aircraft turned to an approximate heading of 090 and started back toward the Alpha Company area. At this point witnesses lost sight of the aircraft as it climbed into a heavy mist; however, the landing light could still be seen, thus providing the observers a means of tracking the aircraft. Now in the heavy mist, the aircraft was obviously IFR. Under these conditions, it turned to a heading of approximately 020 and moved across the Phu Bai berm line at a high rate of speed. Men occupying positions in bunkers along the north side of Phu Bai claim to have seen the light, but not the aircraft, as it passed over their positions headed in a north-easterly direction. Witnesses say that it was only a matter of seconds from this time that the aircraft came out of the mist and struck the ground. Just prior to impact, witnesses claim to have noticed that the light tumbled or turned in such a manner as to indicate the aircraft plunge itself into the ground nose first. Judging from the wreckage the aircraft did strike the ground at an extremely high rate of vertical descent, nose low and almost completely inverted. All crew members suffered fatal injuries in the crash. [Taken from vhpa.org]

Yoshio is buried at Nat Mem Cem of the Pacific.