THE WALL OF FACES

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

Staff Sergeant Bobbie Herald Brewer, Served with the 281st Assault Helicopter Company, 10th Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade, United States Army Vietnam.

The war may be forgotten but the warrior will always be remembered. All gave Some-Some gave All. Rest in peace Bobbie.

Dear Ssgt. Brewer,
Thank you for your service as an Aircraft Maintenance Senior Sergeant. Independence Day is approaching, and it is important for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

On February 14, 1970, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H (tail number 66-17127) from 281st Assault Helicopter Company "Intruders" was involved in an accident during an airborne personnel detector (“sniffer”) mission which was being conducted on Dong Bo Mountain, 4 nautical miles southwest of Nha Trang, RVN. There were no survivors. A crew of 6 was on board, 4 crewing the aircraft and 2 operating the sniffer machine. At 1000 hours Army aircraft 67-17127 took off from Nha Trang AAF enroute to its mission on Dong Bo Mountain. Its mission was to fly 50 feet above the trees at 70 knots so that the sniffer machine could detect any smoke in the area. From 1005 to 1006 hours the sniffer machine had medium to high readings, the last reading approximately 2 minutes before aircraft 66-17127 crashed into the trees. The lead gunship, piloted by WO1 Gardner and 1LT McKeegan, was approximately 100 meters behind 66-17127. At this point there is conflicting statements by the witnesses. It appeared to some witnesses as if the aircraft lost its tail rotor before assuming a nose low attitude. When the aircraft nosed over it lost altitude and impacted into a tree. Upon impact the aircraft assumed a nose high attitude and began turning to the right gaining some altitude. It made two 360 turns before impacting into the trees. Some witnesses state that the aircraft assumed a nose low attitude as if the aircraft was trying to lose altitude by controlling his airspeed. When the aircraft lost altitude it impacted into a dead tree. Plexiglass shattered and the aircraft initiated a climb but yawed to the right. It was noted by some witnesses that at this time the tail rotor had come off. The aircraft made two 360 turns to the right before impacting into the trees on its left side. It was noted that the aircraft had a very slow airspeed and low rotor rpm when it impacted into the trees. It was also noted that the aircraft's main rotor did not come into contact with any trees until impact. About 2 seconds after impact the aircraft burst into flames. After the crash, SP4 Johnson, who was door gunner on the command ship, was lowered to the ground, near the crash site, by the hoist. There was only one body visible on the outside of the wreckage. There wasn't any sign of life so SP4 Johnson was pulled from the area. While SP4 Johnson was on the ground, SP4 Beck, the other door gunner on the command ship, spotted a man in a green uniform running from the top of the hill towards the wreckage. He saw him once again running back up the hill. SP4 Johnson did not see the person while he was on the ground. The individual was never identified. The aircraft was traveling into the wind, which was from the north, before the aircraft went out of control. It impacted on a northerly heading, the wind being light and the visibility was unlimited. The four lost crewmen included pilots WO1 Eldon R. Payne and WO1 Thomas A. Guenther, crew chief SP5 Michael A. Hughey, and gunner SSGT Bobbie H. Brewer. The passengers were CAPT Ronald G. Neubauer and SGT Kenneth L. Delaney. [Taken from vhpa.org]