THE WALL OF FACES

John is buried at Crestlawn Cemetery, Georgetown,KY.

Dear SP4 John William Bruin, 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

ON 23 FEBRUARY 1971, THE 223D COMBAT AVIATION BATTALION WAS ENGAGED IN A COMBAT OPERATION IN THE KINGDOM OF LAOS. THE OPERATION BEGAN AT APPROXIMATELY 1100 HOURS AND THE UH-1H TROOP CARRYING HELICOPTERS WERE TO MAKE 2 SORTIES EACH INTO THE LANDING ZONE WHILE BEING UNDER CONTINUAL COVER OF UH-1C HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS. THE UH-1H HELICOPTERS HAD EACH MADE A LONG LIFT DOWNWIND WITH A FINAL APPROACH ALONG THE LONG AXIS OF THE RIDGELINE, LANDING TOWARD THE EAST. THE UH-1C GUNSHIPS WERE IN A COVERING ORBIT INSIDE THE TRAFFIC PATTERN OF THE UH-1H HELICOPTERS. A TOTAL OF 38 SORTIES HAD BEEN FLOWN INTO THE LANDING ZONE, WITH THE UH-1H HELICOPTERS LANDING SINGLE SHIP. THE LAST UH-1H IN THE FLIGHT BEGAN HIS TURN TO BASE LEG AND ON TO FINAL APPROACH AT A POSITION APPROXIMATELY THE CENTER OF THE RIDGELINE. AT THE SAME TIME THE UH-1C GUNSHIP WAS BEGINNING ITS TURN TO BREAK AWAY FROM ITS PASS TOWARD THE LANDING ZONE. AS THE UH-1C WAS IN ITS TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 50 DEGREES ANGLE OF BANK, THE UH-1H HELICOPTER FLEW INTO THE ROTOR SYSTEM OF THE UH-1C FROM THE LEFT SIDE. THE UH-1C LOST ITS ROTOR SYSTEM, CONTINUED A LEFT TURN, WENT INVERTED, AND CRASHED NOSE LOW EXPLODING ON IMPACT. THE UH-1H CONTINUED STRAIGHT AHEAD, LOST ITS ROTOR SYSTEM, CRASHED IN A NOSE LOW ALTITUDE, AND EXPLODED ON IMPACT. THE CREW MEMBERS AND PASSENGERS (ON THE UH-1H) OF BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE KILLED ON IMPACT. CREW MEMBERS OF THE UH-1H INCLUDED 1LT FARRIS DENNIS CLAUDE (KIA), 1LT USHER TERRY MAXWELL (KIA), SP4 OGATA TERRANCE AKI (KIA), AND SP4 BRUIN JOHN WILLIAM (KIA). [Taken from vhpa.org]

FOREVER REMEMBERED

"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them....
Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heros you left behind...."

Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell
KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces.

We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you, one of the gentle heros lost to the War in Vietnam:

Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul ... and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.

From your Nam-Band-Of-Brothers