THE WALL OF FACES

Great sadness fills our hearts today
As pipes and drums, in slow march play.
A comrade’s fallen by the way,
And now we say goodbye.

This hero to the very end
Was more than just a casual friend,
Who would a stranger’s life defend,
And now we say goodbye

But we shall cherish, all our days,
The character this life portrayed
With sacrifice so freely made,
And now we say goodbye.

The hand salute, o’er Stars and Stripes,
And distant skirl of highland pipes,
Bid last farewell with hero’s rights,
And now we say goodbye.

While here on Earth, you gave your best.
Now in the Master’s arms you rest.
T’is by your memory we are blessed.
And now we say goodbye.

On December 4, 1969, a 68th Assault Helicopter Company UH-1H (#68-15325) helicopter conducting a resupply mission for an infantry unit in Binh Tuy Province, RVN, was shot down shortly after departing the landing zone. The commander on the ground in charge of the infantry unit reported that the aircraft, call sign Top Tiger One, received AK-47 fire and returned fire until it impacted the ground near Dong Kho, eight kilometers (4.8 miles) northeast of Tanh Linh Airfield (Fire Support Base Rising Sun). Two 68th crewmen were killed, and two others were injured, one critically; a passenger was also severely injured. The helicopter was completely destroyed. The lost personnel included pilot CW2 David A. Hickman and gunner SP5 Jose A. Velez-Hernandez. Crew chief SGT Roy L. Royston and the passenger, SP4 Francis A. Trinchitella, an avionics mechanic from the 190th Assault Helicopter Company, were admitted to the 93rd Evacuation Hospital at Long Binh. Both were medically evacuated to the U.S. Army’s 106th General Hospital in Yokohama in Japan. Royston died of his injuries December 16th; Trinchitella expired on the 21st. A second pilot on the flight survived with injuries. Velez-Hernandez had been assigned to a different 68th aircraft, but the night before the incident traded places with his roommate to fly on 325 because it was headed to Xuan Loc (it is unclear why Velez-Hernandez sought to travel to Xuan Loc). The change was approved by flight operations, and the next day the roommate was listening to the radio at Bien Hoa Air Base when the report came over that 325 went down. The incident would haunt him for many years. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, vhpa.org, and “Annual Supplement, History of the 68th Assault Helicopter Company, 125th Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade, 1 January 1969 – 31 December 1969” at 68thahc.com]

Dear Sp4 Francis Trinchitella, Thank you for your service as an Avionics Mechanic. 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.

Francis.
Most of the time, we called you Trinchitella. We sometimes called you” big T”. Not because you were big but because you were slightly shorter than average. We sometimes called you” terrible T”. Not because you were terrible but because you the opposite of terrible. You had a nice laugh, friendly smile, funny, lots of fun, conscious, likeable and a good person. Thank you for your service.

Danney Pickard, from the 190th, has spent several y years, locating members of the 190th. By mid 2019,
He has located 300. Hopefully, we will locate more. Danney found me in February 2019, 50 years after Viet Nam. Wow, 50 years. Danny gave me the list containing 12 names. I was surprised to see you were one of the 12. Every year on December 21, Danney send all of us a note thanking you for your service and mentioning that you were called before us. On the day you and the other eleven were called, Danney sends a note to all of us. You and the other 11 are remembered by many and will never be forgotten.

If you were here, we could laugh about you carrying that big M14 to the perimeter the night of a rocket attacks. We could talk about other rocket attacks, life in Viet Nam, lack of indoor plumbing, no air conditioning, instant mashed potatoes, Kool-Aid etc.

When I left Viet Nam in August 1969, you were in the 190th. I am not sure why you were flying with our
neighbor, the 68th. We kind of, sort of, volunteered for that job. They did not say who wants to volunteer. It was more like who is going.

Danney and the other 300 are looking for anyone in the 190th. The 190th has reunions, birthday ceremonies and a remembrance for all 190th members when they are called.

I would like to hear from anyone. Especially those in the: 190th (Bien Hoa), 184th (Phu Loi) or the 68th Top Tigers. rondodell at aol dot com. 407-765-5166.

In 1969, I was 23 years old and somewhat immature; at 75, hopefully, a lot more mature.

Rest in peace, my friend. The world is a better place because of you. You left your friends with happy memories.

Ron O’Dell

HOME OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE
Thank you veteran for your service
Let this soldier remind you of how much you are appreciated
Your sacrifice to serve and defend our country will never be forgotten
God bless the USA. We said a prayer for you today
By American Heritage

One of my best friends all through school in Port. You brought so much joy and laughter into my life. I remember you everyday in my prayers.