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....

Will always remember our great times together and your zest for life. Even today I miss you. God bless you and thank you for your sacrifice.

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. You gave everything you had to give. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.

On July 10, 1969, a U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G helicopter gunship (tail number 67-15638) from Air Cavalry Troop (ACT), 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, crashed at night in bad weather one mile southeast of Quan Loi Air Field in Binh Long Province, RVN. Both crewmen suffered fatal injuries in the crash. They were aircraft commander 1LT Robin K. Wetzler and pilot 1LT Thomas A. Ceres. The crew had been scrambled at 0345 hours that morning as part of a light-fire team consisting of two AH-1G gunships to give direct fire support to a unit of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in contact west of Quan Loi. From the time of takeoff to the time of re-entry, the weather conditions were intermittent IFR (Instrument Flight Rules). The clouds were on the trees in some areas, and heavy ground fog was forming around the airfield. At 0430 hours, when the team had completed its mission, they contacted the control tower while over An Loc, five miles southwest of Quan Loi. The flight was cleared by the tower for a straight in approach to Runway 05. On their first pass they were unable to maintain sight of the airfield, the runway, or surrounding obstacles. The team broke to the left and maintained altitude and re-entered traffic for another attempt at Runway 05. A second and third attempt was made from left traffic, and both were unsuccessful. On the last pass the tower was asked if there were any lights on the runway. The tower replied that there were three pots burning on the east end of the runway. The tower operator then signaled the team with a green light gun, which they acknowledged. On their next attempt they were unable to make positive identification of any feature on the ground. While still on final, the tower requested knowledge of an alternate field. Their reply to this was that they intended to fly around in the immediate area and see if the weather would get better. On their final pass at approximately midfield, the lead ship, Cobra 638 with Ceres and Wetzler, broke to the left at which time the aircraft entered a cloud bank and then appeared to start a left climbing turn, as reported from the pilot of the wing ship. From that time on, no radio or visual contact was made with Cobra 638. The wing ship then broke to the right, and after several more attempts to land while being talked down, completed a successful touchdown. It was later learned that Aircraft 638 had entered a grove of rubber trees at high airspeed and crashed. The aircraft was embedded 5-6 feet into the ground. Very little damage to the surrounding trees and a small hole in the foliage indicated an excessive nose low condition. After impact, the ship continued to burn but did not explode for about 10-15 minutes. The explosion greatly widened the hole, driving the front section of the aircraft with the pilots into the ground 8-10 feet. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vhpa.org]

Dear Lt Thomas Ceres,
Thanks for your service as a Rotary Wing Aviation Unit Commander - Helicopter Pilot. 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.