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 Alfred Tripp, Thank you for your service as a VMO Pilot. 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.

The first North American Rockwell OV-10A Bronco loss in combat in Vietnam was on July 25, 1968, aircraft number 155412, assigned to Marine Observation Squadron 2 (VMO-2), Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16), and flown by CAPT Alfred L. Tripp. His observer was an infantry officer 1LT Michael F. Hendrickson, assigned to Headquarters, 1st Marine Division. The two Marines were marking a target near Binh Son, about 25 miles south of Da Nang, Quang Nam Province, RVN, for an air strike when their aircraft was hit by small arms fire, failed to pull out of its dive, and crashed (aviation-safety.net). A second account of the incident reported the aircraft was shot down while making repeated runs on an automatic weapons position to take fire off pinned down USMC troops (vhpa.org). The same account states that Tripp’s first tour in Vietnam was as a UH-34 helicopter pilot (MOS 7335). Both crewmen were killed in the incident. [Taken from aviation-safety.net and vhpa.org]

Semper Fi Captain.

Dear Captain Alfred Leonard Tripp, 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