THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrances from your sister Diedre are especially touching and attest to the anguish experienced by so many who lost loved ones in this war. May you rest in eternal peace.

On this day each year I am filled with sadness for the huge loss your family, children, friends and community suffered upon hearing of his death. The thoughts of your violent death will always be with us. The sadness over everything you’ve missed since October 31, 1969 is now and always be unfathomable.

Ft Sill was hot, you were always good to be with. It has been 50 year but I just found out you didn't make it back. Sorry I did not track back sooner, but I just found the old roster. I was surprised that 7 of us who went over did not make it back. I will do better at remembering in the time I have left

On October 31, 1969, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H (tail number 66-16650) from Company B, 229th Aviation Battalion, was on a Command and Control (C&C) mission in Tay Ninh Province, RVN, when it experienced a transmission failure beside Nui Ba Den Mountain and crashed, killing ten U.S. personnel. The lost personnel included aircraft commander CPT Murray J. Wyman, pilot WO1 Michael D. Rosenthal Jr., crew chief SP4 Larry J. McGraw, and gunner SP4 Steve L. Escallier; also lost were passengers LTC Robert L. Alexander, CPT Michael D. Brightman, CPT Adamo E. DeAngelis, CPT Paul E. Reaume, SGM Edward E. See, and SGT Brian J. Morrow. The C&C mission was for a battalion of the 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Americal). The aircraft had been on the mission all that morning and had shut down at the Tay Ninh V.I.P. helipad at approximately 8:30 AM to await its full complement of passengers. Details of the flight after that point are limited. The next contact the aircraft had was between 9:30-9:45 AM when a mayday call was received. An AH-1G helicopter gunship and two scout OH-6A helicopters flying in the area monitored the call and witnessed the aircraft impact with the ground. All the witnesses stated that the main rotor blades of 650 had stopped when they first established visual contact. The UH-1H was between 300-500 feet AGL at this time. The aircraft impacted at a steep angle and exploded on impact. The scout helicopters moved into the crash area in search of survivors while the gunship relayed coordinates and information concerning the crash. The downed aircraft continued to burn after the explosion and most of the aircraft was consumed in the fire. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vhpa.org]

Mike was the "Best Man" in our 1966 wedding. Each year on our wedding anniversary date we raise our glasses high to toast our short but wonderful friendship. Rest In Peace Mike. We miss you still.