THE WALL OF FACES

Dear WO Lewis Walton, Thank you for your service as an Utility/Observation 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.

A previous remembrance provided inaccurate information regarding WO1 Walton's combat death. An accurate report submitted by the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Historical Committee: While performing hunter-killer reconnaissance missions, a team of two OH-6A’s scouts, one UH-1H command and control aircraft, and two AH-1G cobra gunships were directed to assist an ARVN (Army Republic of Vietnam) unit engaged with an NVA (North Vietnamese Army) force of unknown size maneuvering in an area called The U Minh Forest.
Operating at treetop altitude, both OH-6’s were hit by fire from multiple small arms and anti-aircraft machine guns, downing each in quick succession. The first aircraft downed was OH-6A 67-16013 piloted by Darkhorse 14, CW2 Jay Damon and crewed by SFC Jim Hand. The second aircraft downed was OH-6A 67-16268, piloted by Darkhorse 18, WO1 Lewis and crewed by SSG Rick Pawelke, sustaining fatal damage and striking the ground in an uncontrolled fashion, nose-down and to the right. Both Lewis and Pawelke died, either killed by enemy fire or the force of the impact.
Despite repeated efforts to rescue/recover the crew of Darkhorse 18 on December 9, 1971, intense enemy groundfire and fighting in the area delayed recovery of the bodies until December 11. Although it was rumored the crew was captured and executed by the NVA on December 9, eyewitness accounts confirmed both crewmembers perished during the downing of OH-6A 67-16268.

We are your family (my wife Annette your sister) are living in your memory and will keep your memory alive. We love you Alan.

I wore a bracelet with Lewis Walton's name on it for several years back in the '70's. It's only in the last year or so that I finally discovered his fate. My heartfelt condolences to his loved ones. God bless you Lewis. You are home with the Father, happy and whole in His love.

Dear WO Lewis Alan Walton, 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