THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

Dear Lcpl Jeffrey Wilson, Thank you for your service as a Helicopter/Tiltrotor Dynamic Components Mechanic. The 53rd anniversary of the start of your tour just passed. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Valentine's Day is soon. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance, and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Old number 17 got a complete oil change, that night. Jeffery and I made a real all night effort to put him on the morning launch. He was so proud to be crewing his bird to insert a team of marines to wipe out the enemy buildup. He was to fly chase in the event he was needed for emergency rescue. His crew was called...they spiraled in to make the rescue. Automatic weapons fire met him that fateful day, March 6, 1970. Rest in peace, you performed well, the team and other crew remembers were spared because of your bravery. Semper Fi

On the remembrance of your 70th Birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine.

LCPL Jeffrey L. Wilson was the crew chief on a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter CH-46D (tail number 153372) attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (HMM 262), Marine Aircraft Group 16. On March 6, 1970, the aircraft was west of Thong Duc and was engaged in attempting to extract the crew of a crashed CH-46 which had earlier been shot down while attempting to insert civilian irregular Defense Troops. During the rescue attempt, the helicopter came under enemy small arms fire, causing significant damage to the aircraft. LCPL Wilson received fatal wounds from during the attack. Two other crewmen were wounded. Despite the damage to the aircraft, the helicopter was able to maintain flight and was diverted to a friendly airbase. [Taken from vhpa.org and the book U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft Damaged or Destroyed by Douglas E. Campbell]