THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever…..

May those who served never be forgotten. Rest in peace SP4. Cavanaugh, I salute your brave soul. My heart goes out to you and your family.

I remember he and I were friends. Bill lived on Cross st and
I lived on Dexter st in Central Falls RI. He was a regular kid. His family had a store at the corner of Cross st and Dexter st.
I hope his family well.
5-29-18

Dear Sp4 William Cavanaugh,
Thank you for your service as a Huey, UH-1 Helicopter Crew Chief. It is so 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 strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

On April 10, 1964, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B (tail number 62-01916) from the 114th Aviation Company, Delta Aviation Battalion, U.S. Army Support Command Vietnam, MACV, was on a combat assault mission to insert ARVN troop when the aircraft experienced a tail boom separation. Eight ARVN soldiers and the four U.S. crewmen were killed in the incident. The lost crewmen included aircraft commander WO1 David E. Miller, pilot 1LT Joseph G. Galambos, crew chief SP4 William T. Cavanaugh, and gunner PFC Albert L. Shimek. The following is a personal account of the incident by Lewis J. Postles: Miller and Galambos were flying together in the 114 AHC. We were 15 aircraft in trail on an Eagle flight for a troop insertion. At 2500 feet the tail boom left the aircraft (this was the first know tail boom separation in flight). The fuselage started spinning opposite the rotor blade and the ARVN troops were slung out in flight. We watched them go in. The helicopter caught fire and Miller got away from the aircraft. He went back to the pilot station and tried to save Galambos who was engulfed in flames. He apparently inhaled a lot of flames. Galambos died immediately and Miller died 8 days later from burnt lungs. (Narrative by Lewis J. Postles, Mil. Ret.) [Taken from vhpa.org]