THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever.

Dear Cap Joe Trickey, Thank you for your service with the 388th USAF Dispensary. Thank you for the lives you saved. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is Agent Orange Awareness Month. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

On the evening of November 26, 1966, a Douglas U.S. Air Force C-47D (# 44-76574), a wing transport aircraft assigned to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat RTAFB, Thailand, departed from Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon on a nighttime administrative flight with 25 Air Force personnel headed to Korat Royal Thai AFB in Thailand. The C-47 made a normal take off and climbout. About five minutes after takeoff, the aircrew advised Tan Son Nhut they had an engine problem and were returning to that airfield. The pilot radioed radar control that he had a rough #1 engine. He received a vector course to steer. Shortly thereafter, the pilot reported he had to feather #1. Soon he reported the field in sight and was cleared for a straight in, downwind approach. Next he called the control tower reporting he could not get his landing gear fully down and locked. A witness later said only the left gear was down. This gear trouble undoubtedly added severely to his unsymmetrical drag and control problem. The tower first saw the plane turning slowly left away from the field at very low altitude, then stall, wing over and suddenly plunge to earth. Witnesses observed a steep, violent, crushing impact in a rice paddy followed instantly by a fierce fire. The time was about 1850 hours. Twenty-five airmen were lost in the crash, including CAPT Karl D. Sobolik, A2C Lawrence A. Barcklow, A2C Troy Bealin, A1C Hardy L. Bell, SMS Earl K. Burns Jr., MSGT Dieter W. Dietz, 1LT Charles L. Faulkner, 1LT Harold L. Graves, LTC Carroll G. Hogeman, CAPT John R. Humphrey, CAPT Edward L. Kerr, MSGT Marchelle R. Lanzone, MSGT William A. Lynch Jr., AC1 Norman W. McRobie, A1C James E. Oxley, 1LT Adrian F. Purnell, 1LT Alden L. Riley, CWO Alan R. Steffen, SSGT Walter Suhar, MAJ Joe H. Trickey Jr., TSGT Jesse L. Waltman, CAPT James E. Webb, LTC Paul R. West, SSGT Bobby L. Williams, and SSGT Dennis P. Wright. [Taken from togetherweserved.com and aviation-safety.net]

Dear Captain Joe H Trickey Jr, 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

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, perchance, may therein comfort you.