THE WALL OF FACES

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Dear Sp5 Robert Tedford, Thank you for your service as a CH-47 Helicopter Repairer. Your 80th birthday is soon, happy birthday, and the 54th anniversary of the start of your tour was 5 days ago. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Monday was Independence Day. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

To the family of Mr Tedford I wish you the best my grandfather was good friends with him in Nam up until his passing my grandfather was a door Gunner and was supposed to be on the same Chinook that crashed he had a gone out the night before to evacuate a division of Marines Mr Tedford volunteered to take my Papa's shift I heard the story hundreds of times and may he rest in peace as my grandfather joined him in September of 2021

John and I were Chi Phi fraternity brothers at the University of Alabama his freshman year before he left for the Air Force Academy. Enjoyed knowing him and was very sad to learn of his ultimate sacrifice for our country. When I was in Washington several years ago, I found his name on the wall. Thank you John.

On March 22, 1969, a U.S. Army helicopter CH-47B (tail number 67-18461) from the 178th Assault Support Helicopter Company, callsign Boxcar, was conducting a troop and resupply lift in Quang Tin Province, RVN, when it crashed during landing approach to LZ West. Nine personnel were killed in the incident, including one crewman. They included flight engineer SP5 Robert C. Tedford, and passengers SP4 Richard W. Goden, SP4 Clarence H. Boolin, SP4 Leonardo Rios-Velazquez Jr., SP4 Charles D. Howell, SGT David C. Vallance, and SP4 Terry L. Staman. SP4 George F. Reynolds Jr. was critically burned in the crash and was medically evacuated to the 106th Army General Hospital in Yokohama, Japan, where he expired March 29, 1969. The aircraft had the routine mission to resupply Fire Support Base West with hot rations, canned goods, soda pop, beer, lumber, mail, and other miscellaneous cargo. These items were loaded internally along with 25 passengers at LZ Baldy. The aircraft was refueled, and a hover check was performed. Difficulty in hovering prompted the decision to reduce the load, and five passengers were taken off the aircraft. After a subsequent hover check, the aircraft departed LZ Baldy with the remaining twenty passengers, internal cargo, and crew of five at 1300 hours. While approaching short final to LZ West, the aircraft commander noticed that the aircraft was losing power. The aircraft continued to settle and was falling below the lip of the ridgeline. The aircraft commander took over the controls, banked the aircraft sharply to the left. After a 180 degree turn, the aircraft started down the hillside and struck a small tree with the rear rotor disk. Initial contact with the ground was made with the rear left gear which was sheared it from the fuselage. The rear ramp structure also contacted the ground at this point. The aircraft pitched about its rear pivot point, causing the entire right side of the aircraft to contact the ground. Inertia carried the aircraft over on its back in what was described as a slow roll. The aircraft came to a complete stop inverted. The rear end immediately burst into flames which completely destroyed the aircraft in less than ten minutes. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vhpa.org]