THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Cap Thaddeus Williams, Thank you for your service as a Fixed Wing Aviation Unit Commander - Pilot. I researched you on your 57th anniversary, sad. Glad you were identified in 1998. Welcome Home. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. You are remembered. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

I was on duty the night of January 9, 1966. As a U.S. Army intelligence analyst, I had been assigned to the 20th ASTA Detachment to handle classified security matters, but on this particular day and evening had been assigned to general operations. Captain Williams came in and greeted me about 11:00 PM, picked up some papers and departed for the Phu Bai airport . Phu Bai was a former U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps base south of Hue, in central Vietnam.
About midnight he called me on the radio advising that they were airborne.
At 4:00 AM, I attempted to call Captain Willliams, as it was established protocol and I received no answer. I attempted several times to call him and again no answer. At that point I contacted the radio tower at the Phu Bai airfield and inquired if they had heard from the aircraft that Lieutenant Willliams was operating. They replied no.
I then contacted Lieutenant Kenneth Long.
While I was not as close to Captain Williams as others in the detachment were, my heart ached. Here was an pilot that had a smile on his face, was professional as well as being very kind. He and I were near the same age.
While I thank God for his mercy and grace and my being able to return home from Vietnam, I have never forgotten Captain Williams and look forward to that day we can meet again.

I never met you, but I’m carrying your name with me thanks to your brother Eldridge. Thank you for your service & I’ll meet you some day in the after life.

I met Thad when we were in ROTC training together at Ft. Benning in 1962. We were in the same squad and platoon. I will always remember his great smile and soft-spoken manner. Later in 1964, Chad and I happened to meet at Ft. Rucker during flight training. He was one class ahead of me. He still had that wonderful smile and caring interest in how I was doing. I will always remember Thad. My children slept safe and secure because he stood his watch. All gave some but some gave all.

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers