THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. I am heartened you returned home though I wish it had been under very different circumstances. May you rest in eternal peace.

LTJG Virgil K. Cameron was U.S. Navy pilot assigned to Attack Squadron 155 (VA-155) aboard the USS Constellation. On July 29, 1966, LTJG Cameron was the wingman in a flight of 2 A-4E jets on an armed reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam. At 9:25 AM, Cameron commenced a divebomb attack against a barge near Phu Dien Chau in Nghe Tinh Province. He made a low-angle dive with an entry altitude of 5000 feet. The flight leader was above Cameron’s A-4E when it was hit by antiaircraft fire. The enemy fire was visible by flak puffs and the sound of automatic weapons audible as they fired. A stream of fuel came from Cameron’s starboard wing about midway in his dive. The aircraft oscillated slightly and then began to roll left and burst immediately in a fireball. No ejection attempt or parachute was observed, nor was there a radio signal received by the flight leader. The flight leader searched the area thoroughly and saw only a burn spot on the ground where the aircraft impacted. Cameron’s remains were not recovered and he was declared Missing in Action. During the time he was missing he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. In September 1990, Cameron’s remains were repatriated and positively identified in August 1999. He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

Dear Lt Cmdr Virgil Cameron,
Thank you for your service as an Unrestricted Line Officer - Pilot from the U. S. S. CONSTELLATION. I was glad to read you were repatriated in 1990, and identified in 1999. WELCOME HOME. As another summer comes to an end, it is important for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Looking for Drake, came across this site and thoughts flowed back from those days we lived in the woods north of your parents home. I think we buried a box of coins not far from the barn, where your Mom sold the largest Extra Large eggs I ever remember seeing. I'm thinking of the many times we sat up in the mesquite tree in your back yard eating grapes, hours on end. And how about the bee hive inside the wall off the kitchen, and the bread your Mom and Dad made so often. Picking cotton, pulling those long bags down the rows, or riding horses. Oh, pulling our homemade water skies down the canal with a rope tied to the bumper of that little car your Dad owned. So much more stacked up in my brain. How those moonless nights we hid in the bushes and chunks dirt pieces on passing autos, then laugh and run to hide. Ahhh, growing up in south Texas in the 50s, what days they were.

Dear Sir:

I wore a bracelet with your name and rank and the day you went down. I had just joined the Navy and notice that.... you were Naval Officer. I remember moving from place to place and wearing it wondering if you would come home soon, or hoping that there would be another "GREAT RAID" and then you would be home. As time went on I prayed each day offering masses and lighting candles for your safe return. Then I went through SERE school, and the Commander in charge was a POW rescued, I asked the question if he knew of you knowing the answer would be no....now it is 2013 and I find out that it took the USA and the powers that be 33 years to find you and bring you home. I am so deeply sorry that it took that long to bring you home and I apologize to on behalf of the U.S government that it took so long, Im sorry for all of the brutal pain that you must have endured. I DO know that the Lord was with you the whole time.. I m glad that you are home where you belong. I know now that the SUN is always in your face, and your are happy watching your family and guiding them. I send to you A PROUD SALUTE, ask that you say a prayer for me up there. Respectfully, asb a retired navy chief hospitalcorpsman.