THE WALL OF FACES

Specialist Four John Stephen Alling, Jr. was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. He served as a Helicopter Repairer and Air Crewmember. He was assigned to HQ & SVC CO, 15TH MED BN, 1ST CAV DIV.
See http://www.virtualwall.org/da/AllingJS01a.htm

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

As long as you are remembered you will never truly die.

On November 26, 1968, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H from the 15th Medical Battalion was conducting a medical evacuation when it was shot down near Quan Loi and crashed and burned. There were no survivors. The lost crewmen included pilots CWO James D. Doran and 1LT Stephen C. Beals, crew chief SP4 John S. Alling Jr., and medics SP5 Johnny G. Gregg and CPL Robert E. Jones. There were six passengers aboard at the time of the shoot down. They included PFC Roger D. Algire, SP4 William M. Ebel, SP4 Bobby J. Perkins, SP4 Pietro Piconi, SP4 Curtis H. Rainer, and SP4 Patrick E. Smith. Also aboard was the body of PFC Lloyd A. Chess, who was killed in action previous to the attempted medical extraction. Chess was posthumously promoted to Corporal. The aircraft went down northwest of LZ Rita. The medevac reportedly received heavy ground fire and crashed roughly three miles south of the Cambodian border. At the time of the shoot down, all infantry companies in the vicinity had received orders to move south or southwest in a hurry to clear the area for an impending B-52 Arc Light strike. Two rifle companies were airlifted back to the location of the downed medevac. On November 28th (Thanksgiving Day), they located the wreckage and the bodies, confirmed the fatalities, and called for recovery assistance. All the bodies were recovered and airlifted back to Quan Loi. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vhpa.org]

DEAR SPECIALIST 4TH CLASS ALLING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A UH - 1 (HUEY) HELICOPTER REPAIRER. REST IN PEACE.

I never knew you John, But from what My mother says about you I wish I had the chance of meeting you, I know Grandma (Erma) thinks of you all the time. Would of loved to here your stories of Bill and Sharon (Mom) growing up. I Miss you even though Have never had the Pleasure of Meeting. Your mother Loves you and we all miss you. May God be with you