THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. While all deaths in Vietnam are tragic that you died just six days after your 26th birthday is especially so. May you rest in eternal peace.

Dear Lt John Wallace, Thank you for your service as an HMH Helicopter Pilot. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart . Halloween is soon. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

May this remembrance find you in Gods Holy Kingdom!
May America never forget your sacrifice, and the sacrifices of so many others !

On April 19, 1971, a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter CH-46D (tail number 154839) from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (HMM 262) suffered a transmission failure and crashed in about six to ten feet of surf about a half-mile north of Marble Mountain Air Facility in Quang Nam Province, RVN. The aircraft was flying at approximately 600-700 feet at 90-100 knots when the rotor blades meshed due to the mechanical failure. Two crewmen, LCPL Bruce D. Olson and CPL George J. Vangundy, were killed in the crash. The aircraft commander, 1LT John T. Wallace, was rescued but succumbed to his injuries the following day. There were rumors that the forward transmission oil line was not reattached after some maintenance had been done on the aircraft. This caused the forward transmission to seize and snapped the sync shaft to the rear transmission, allowing the rotor blades to mesh at high speed. There is a personal account of this incident by Paul M. Philpott, LTC USMCR (Ret.): I was flying in the lead aircraft of a section of CH-46's which had just departed MMAF to "check guns" prior to standing night medevac. Immediately after going feet wet (over water), our wingman (1LT Jack Wallace's crew) crashed just off China Beach due to a catastrophic transmission failure. Two crew members were KIA at the site. Jack survived the crash, but died the next day from his injuries. I believe Jack was the last "Flying Tiger" to die in country (RVN). [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, popasmoke.com, and vvmf.org]

Jack and I were in HMM 364 together as squadron pilots.While I was serving as FAC for 3/1, the purple foxes were decommissioned and we were transferred to other squadrons and I believe Jack was with Chatterbox HMM 262. When my tour of duty with the grunts ended, I returned to Marble Mountain. I will never forget the evening Jack died. I was headed for the officer's mess when I heard the night medevac bird fly over the airfield. The crew was likely checking out the aircraft and headed for the medevac hootch to stand by for the night medevac mission. Suddenly I heard a clatter behind me and turned to see the rotor blades disintegrating and watched as the aircraft plummeted to the ground on or near the beach of the South China Sea. I couldn't see exactly where the aircraft hit. The forward transmission oil line was not reattached after maintenance from what I heard. The forward transmission seized and snapped the sync shaft to the rear transmission allowing the rotor blades to mesh at high speed. Some of the crew survived. Jack was a really likable, good guy. We were all so close to leaving country. Jack has not been forgotten by those of us who served with him.