THE WALL OF FACES

At approximately 10:00 PM on December 10, 1969, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H (tail number 66-16232) from Company C, 229th Aviation Battalion crashed on final approach to the Blue Max helicopter pad Tay Ninh Combat Base in Tay Ninh Province, RVN. One of the crewmen, gunner SP4 Robert R. Allmers, was killed in the incident. Four other personnel aboard were injured. The aircraft was arriving from Phuoc Vinh where it had picked up a passenger. The crew reportedly had logged about 16 hours flying time this day after providing C&C duties for an Engineer Battalion Commanding Officer. Both pilot and aircraft commander had landed at Tay Ninh many times before and seeing the lights of Tay Ninh not more than a mile away, began to relax as they made a long, shallow approach to the landing area. Operating under normal visual flight rules with the lights of Tay Ninh as their horizon, they were traveling at eighty knots with a descent of 300 feet per minute when the crew chief and aircraft commander suddenly saw a tree pass the left side of the ship. Knowing he was low, the aircraft commander started to pull pitch; but he was too late. Aircraft 232 hit the ground, plowing through four rice paddy dikes before coming to a rest on one of the farm roads in the area. The pilots were thrown from the wreckage still strapped in their seats. The crew chief and a passenger were also thrown free of the aircraft. Allmers was pinned inside the only part of the helicopter that had stayed intact, but a smoke grenade box tore loose from the bulkhead and hit him in the head, fatally injuring him. The crew chief remained conscious and helped free the pilot from his seat. Personnel from the base raced to scene and evacuated the wounded to the base medical hospital. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Fred Zacher (June 1999) at vhpa.org]

DEAR SPECIALIST 4TH CLASS ALLMERS,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A FLIGHT QUALIFIED AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE APPRENTICE WITH THE 1ST CAVALRY. I HAD A FRIEND WHOSE BROTHER WAS 1ST CAV, I HOPE YOU GREETED HIM.
REST IN PEACE.

THE WAR MAY BE FORGOTTEN BUT THE WARRIOR WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED!!!! REST IN PEACE ROBERT.

Dear SP4 Robert Roger Allmers, 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

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.

Mary Frye – 1932