THE WALL OF FACES

Thinking of you today as I always do on Memorial Day. I wish you were here to know you had two nephews that followed in your footsteps and joined the Navy. I will always remember you.

At 0900 hours on February 5, 1968, a P-3 "Orion" aircraft assigned to Patrol Squadron 26 at U Tapao Airbase, Thailand, left on a "Market Time” mission over the Gulf of Thailand (Gulf of Siam). They were scheduled to return to their base at about 0900 hours the following morning. The crew on board the aircraft included LT Thomas P. Jones, LTJG Lynn M. Travis, LTJG Roy A. Huss, AXCS Donald F. Burnett, AX3 Armando Chapa Jr., AX3 William F. Farris (AX designates Antisubmarine warfare technicians and related duties), AOC Donald L. Gallagher, AMH2 Homer E. McKay; ADR1 James C. Newman Jr., and AE1 Melvin C. Thompson (A designates in many cases, aviation personnel, i.e. AE1 is Aviation Electrician's Mate First Class). As antisubmarine warfare was all but unknown in Vietnam, there were a variety of duties handled by those trained in antisubmarine warfare. As marking submarines, and/or destroying them involved the use of marking buoys, electronic "ears" and other technical equipment suited for target marking, antisubmarine teams were frequently used for search missions. They also sometimes assisted in attacks on small enemy water craft. Shortly after midnight on February 6, the Orion reported a surface contact. Some two hours later it reported another contact somewhat further east. The last report received from the Orion was after 0300 hours. No subsequent communication was received. An emergency communication alert for the aircraft was declared shortly after daybreak and a full search and rescue (SAR) was declared. In the late afternoon of February 6, wreckage and debris were sighted and identified. On February 7 search and rescue operations were terminated at sundown. Salvage operations were conducted from February 11 through March 21. The investigating officer concluded that the Orion had impacted with the water, and that the aircraft had been completely destroyed, and that all of the crewmembers had died instantly. The Orion went down about 50 miles off the shores of South Vietnam's An Xuyen Province in the Gulf of Thailand. Presumably, all the crew aboard are "buried" at sea - an honorable burial for a naval man. This crew is listed with honor among the missing because no remains were ever found. [Narrative taken from pownetwork.org; image from wikipedia.org]

Dear AXCS Donald Frederick Burnett, 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

Thank you for your service and sacrifice Senior. The legacy you to and those like you have not been forgotten.

Very Respectfully and sincerly,
ICC SEL

You gave your life for your country and for this we Salute You.