THE WALL OF FACES

Welcome home vet! Although I never met you, as a child I did know your parents and grandparents. My father, Lawrence A. Whiteley was a relative of the Townsend family. I was on active duty at the AF Inspection & Safety Center when your plane went down. Your family notified my mother Frances Farr Whiteley a few weeks later. I am glad you are finally home, and hopefully closure for the family.

Francis is buried at Rusk,TX.

If I should die, and leave you here awhile, be not like others, sore undone, who keep long vigils by the silent dust, and weep...for MY sake, turn again to life, and smile...Nerving thy heart, and trembling hand to do something to comfort other hearts than thine...Complete these dear, unfinished tasks of mine...and I, perchnace, may therein comfort you.

I remember Cadet Townsend, who was two years ahead of me, when I was a C4C and C3C at the Air Force Academy in CS-10. He was a role model as an upperclassman - fair, high expectations, a leader...
I graduated in 72 and two months later learned of his death. The price of freedom is not free - its price is measured by the loss felt so dearly by all those he touched in his short life and even more so by his family and wife. Thank you, sir, and may God's blessings be felt by those you left here...see you at the next roll call!

On Silver Wings
They Flew The Skies
These Brave Young Men
Who Fought And Died
When Duty Called
They Went So Brave
Now Families Mourn
Beside Their Grave
Who Can Forget
What Courage They Had
Some Have,Some Did
And That's So Sad