THE WALL OF FACES

On November 21, 1968, a U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A (tail number 67-16355) from B Troop, 7th Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry, was on a visual reconnaissance mission in Binh Thuan Province, RVN, when it was hit by a Viet Cong rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and crashed and burned. Both crewmen, pilot 1LT Clifford K. Welding and observer SGT Stanley N. Green, were fatally injured in the incident. The following is a personal account of the shoot down by Joe Shepherd: Cliff Welding and SGT Green were flying my wing that day. We were covered by two (AH-1 attack helicopter) Cobras and were following a fresh trail from an overnight contact into the foothills. We caught a group of 8-10 Viet Cong on the trail. Cliff and I both engaged with mini-guns and fire from our observers. We dropped smoke and the Cobras rolled in as we moved off to the west. After making several passes, the Cobra lead called us back for a BDA (bomb-damage assessment). Cliff's mini-gun had stopped working so he led back into the area and I followed to cover him. As we neared the smoke from the Cobra's rockets, we received small arms fire. Then Cliff's aircraft was hit by an RPG. It went down immediately. I tried to land but could not because of small arms fire. I could see that Cliff was still in the burning aircraft and that SGT Green was out, but that he was burned very bad. I stayed on station until the Blues (infantry) arrived and confirmed that Cliff was KIA and SGT Green was medevacked. (Green died the same day.) [Taken from vhpa.org and info provided by Joe Shepherd at the same website]

Dear 1LT Clifford Kay Welding, 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

You gave your life for your country and for this we Salute You.

Cliff is buried at Lincoln Memorial Park, Lincoln, NE. DFC AM/5 OLC PH

I was a close friend of Cliff's during OCS at Ft. Knox in 1966/67. Was in Vietnam with 82nd ABN in Nov 68 but only heard of his being shot down a month later. I remember him as a natural leader, open-minded and with a wicked sense of humor. I remember him every year on Nov 21st with at least 2 Rolling Rocks - at the time his favorite brew.