THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from Susan Emerson is touching and reflects her admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever.

Dear Lt Robert Terry, Thank you for your service as an HMH Helicopter Pilot. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Independence Day just passed. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Ikr, we met at Del Mar in Corpus Christi, Texas and you took me sailing for the first time. You were my first boyfriend and my parents adored you. I will never forget your Volkswagen Beetle and your great smile, so like your dear Mother’s. You are in my prayers every single day and I miss you so much even after all these many years. May your dear soul, in the Mercy of God, Rest in Love and Peace.

Dear Ike, I think of you often after all these years, as you were before you became a marine and gave your life for your country. In a time of innocence and decency and “free range” kids just riding bikes with friends. That’s how I remember you, God bless you and your family, Now as a grandmother, I hope my grandsons appreciate what a huge sacrifice your parents and grandparents made.as well. God bless you sweet boy. Rest In Peace.

On December 4, 1967, a RU-6A Beaver aircraft from the 138th Aviation Company (Radio Research), located at Da Nang, RVN, took off for a routine, but highly classified mission. A total of four crew members were on board the aircraft at t crash. The Beaver left Da Nang Air Force Base at approximately 1225 hours and departed southwest to their operational area. Since the mission this aircraft was conducting was secret, its objectives were unknown except that it required orbiting particular areas of an assigned sector. Initially, the aircraft was flown over relatively flat coastal terrain. However, after approximately fifteen to twenty minutes, the nature of the terrain changed abruptly to mountains interspersed with steep canyon waIls and one major river valley known as the Song Vu Gia River. Sometime between 1400 and 1430 hours, the aircraft was in the process of making a series of turns at low elevation in mountainous terrain when it struck trees and the ground. Prior to impact with the ground, the aircraft penetrated dense jungle vegetation consisting of thick bamboo, brush, and scattered hard wood trees. The trees were estimated to be approximately forty to fifty feet high and extremely dense. The impact with these trees severed the left wing from the remainder of the fuselage and further caused the aircraft to either spin or cartwheel in such a manner that it came to rest 180 degrees from its flight path. The right wing was partially under the fuselage and the passenger compartment was buckled. The pilot, CPT Douglas J. Kelly, and one operator, WO1 Robert D. King, were killed as a result of the crash. Two crew members survived, and after considerable difficulty and delay caused by deteriorating weather and inability to locate the wreckage, were rescued after being lifted out in a basket lowered by a hovering USAF HH-3 Jolly Green Giant helicopter from the 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. The extraction of the two survivors was completed at 1700 hours, and they were immediately flown to the Navy Hospital at Da Nang. The two fatalities were extracted by a second rescue helicopter with the assistance of Special Forces personnel at 1750 hours. Attempts the following day to extract classified information from the wreckage resulted in one crew member from the 37th Aerospace Rescue Squadron (Jolly Green Giant) being wounded by enemy small arms fire. In addition, two Marine UH-1E armed helicopters gunships were lost and four crew members killed when they inadvertently flew into a mountain while attempting to return to Da Nang IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) after this mission was aborted due to poor weather. All four crewmembers in the lead aircraft were killed, while the crew of the second aircraft survived. The second aircraft was able to see lead helicopter impact and explode. The second aircraft executed a pull up, impacted the top of trees, tumbled over several times, and came to rest inverted on the ground. The co-pilot and gunner were injured during the impact. The surviving crew was on the ground for three and a half hours until rescue aircraft arrived to pull them out. During the extensive time on ground, the second crew determined that no one survived the impact and burning of the lead helicopter. The aircraft was completely incinerated. The lost Marine crew included aircraft commander 2LT Robert I. Terry III, pilot CPT Gary L. England, and crewmen CPL August H. Monhof and GSGT Frank E. Morey Jr. The first rescue aircraft on the scene was supposed to be picking up a VIP at Da Nang when it was diverted to the crash site. They found the mountain in clouds and located the survivors by tuning in to the ADF (automatic direction finder). They picked up the co-pilot and gunner, the two most severely injured. Crew members provided first aid to the two injured Marines. The co-pilot had suffered serious injuries to his face along with internal injuries. It appeared he hit the instrument panel or the cyclic stick on impact. Rescue breathes had to be administered mouth to mouth when he stopped breathing. The gunner had a broken hip and some other internal injuries. Both would survive. During the 20-minute flight the fuel light was on an extended time. The rescue ship ran out of fuel landing at Marble Mountain airfield and had to be towed off runway. [Taken from popasmoke.org and 138thavnco.org]