THE WALL OF FACES

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

Never forget.

HOOAH

On the remembrance of your 86th birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

The Phantom, used by Air Force, Marine and Navy air wings, served a multitude of functions including fighter-bomber and interceptor, photo and electronic surveillance. The two man aircraft was extremely fast (Mach 2), and had a long range (900 - 2300 miles, depending on stores and mission type). The F-4 was also extremely maneuverable and handled well at low and high altitudes. The F-4 was selected for a number of state-of-the-art electronics conversions, which improved radar intercept and computer bombing capabilities enormously. Most pilots considered it one of the "hottest" planes around. MAJ Gilbert S. Palmer Jr. and CAPT Thomas T. Wright comprised the crew of a reconnaissance version of the Phantom fighter/bomber, an RF-4C, in Vietnam. On February 27, 1968, the two were assigned a reconnaissance mission from which they would not return. Palmer's aircraft was hit by enemy fire and crashed. The location is not clear. According to a sheet distributed by the Arizona POW/MIA families (Palmer's family was at that time residing in Arizona), Palmer and Wright were lost in Laos. According to Defense Department and State Department records, the two went down in Laos. However, coordinates listed by these agencies are located near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), some five miles southwest of the city of Vinh Linh in Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam. The records of Joint Casualty Resolution Center indicate that the loss occurred in Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam. Palmer and Wright were declared Missing in Action. From the non-specific coordinates given, it is clear that the Air Force does not know the precise loss location. Thus, they are not sure what the Vietnamese know about their fates. When 591 Americans were released from Vietnam in 1973, Palmer and Wright were not among them. If, as some records indicate, the two were lost in Laos, they join nearly 600 Americans who were lost there. Not one man held in Laos was ever released [Narrative taken from pownetwork.org; image from wikipedia.org]

Dear Colonel Thomas Thawson Wright, 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