THE WALL OF FACES

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory
and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed...
We feel lucky to have seen it.

Dear Sp5 Wayne Tice, Thank you for your service as a Flight Qualified UH-1 Helicopter Repairer. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Tomorrow is the 58th anniversary of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident.. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

SP5 Wayne A. Tice served with the 174th Assault Helicopter Company. On November 18, 1968, while reconning an area where a USMC F-4 Phantom jet had been shot down and the pilots were still missing, SP5 Tice’s helicopter, Dolphin 428, came under enemy fire. The aircraft took more than 15 hits. Although critically wounded, SP5 Tice, the crew chief, returned fire until the ship was out of the area. Tice was medevacked to Chu Lai, but later died of wounds. In recognition of gallantry, he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. [Taken from 174ahc.org]

Dear SP5 Wayne Artamus Tice, 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

Wayne Tice on left and Carl Martin on right. Notice bandage on Tice's arm. He was wounded that day while flying with John O'Sullivan. This photo depicts our drunken celebration of Wayne 'cheating death'. Wayne's wound was not bad enough for him to be grounded. Horrorably enough, he flew the next day and was KIA.

(Photo Credit and Comment: Harry Cooper)

Rest in peace with the warriors.