THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

I was a young teen when Dave attended my Father's church. He dated one of my dear friends, so we spent a lot of time together. He was so kind to a kid with a crush on one of his buddies. He never made me feel childish or ridiculous or silly in my infatuation. I was devastated when Wanda told me of his passing. Fly high, Dave. Thanks for everything that you taught me.

Dear Lt David Caplan,
Thank you for your service as an Attack Helicopter Pilot with the 1st Cavalry. It is another autumn, and time has passed since this war. 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.

Dear 2LT David Leon Caplan, 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

Dave was my close friend at Ft Bragg, NC, where as a Warrant Officer chopper pilot he flew the command staff for the 82nd Airborne Division, while I was at the JFK Center . . As I recall, I think he was actually originally from Denver, CO. I believe Dave was also half Jewish, having personally found his true Messiah, Jesus Christ. Dave visited our home at Bragg regularly, enjoyed my wife and baby sat and played with our new son a lot . . and together Dave and I started the first Bible study in the barracks at the 82nd Airborne Division . . around the time we met he had applied to Cobra school in Alabama, but many months passed without hearing . . sometime thereafter he eventually hoped to withdraw from Cobra school, in order to remain at Bragg, flying and ministering in the 82nd Airborne Division, but when he inquired he found out his change orders had finally already been cut . . we were both disappointed, but his course had been set, and before leaving Bragg Dave gave me his flight jacket, one of the great gifts I've received in life, but long since worn out and discarded in the process of many moves . . Dave wrote me a letter the night before he was killed, which I received several weeks later . . it contained considerable detailed and ominous descriptions of what he was facing each day or night he went up, as well as the daily death rates of the chopper pilots in the unit . . then I was notified of his death one night not long thereafter, via a military based ministry organization, the Navigators, and realizing that his letter had been written the day before his death, as he had already surmised from his daily combat experiences. Dave was a great friend, and I've remembered and celebrated him each year since, as well as a number of times at 'The Wall' or 'The Traveling Wall.'