THE WALL OF FACES

Well, it has been 56 years and it's almost like it happened yesterday. You remembered many times during the year, but especially on December the 14th. You were a great friend and a great crew chief. I truly believe that all of you guys would still be with us have the helicopter been left on a red x and taken off flight status. May you rest in peace and I am sure there will be a time when all of those lost will be reunited.
Roger McLean 336-971-5025 phone number

Sp5 Matthew Amaral, III is buried at Wesleyan Cemetery.

Matt, Wow I can't believe it's been 55 yrs. since I last seen you. The last letter I enclosed pictures of snow , I know you loved winter in Gloucester. You know I was proud to be asked to be Best Man at you & Yvette's wedding, but God had a different plan I was a palebearer at your funeral. When we were in Nam we would say that one of us could be next, but as 20yr. olds we didn't buy it. You & your family have been in my heart & prayers since i received the letter about your death. We didn't say these words in the 60's, but "I love you Man"! Your best Buddy & Gunner Bob

Operation Klamath Falls (December 1, 1967 – January 8, 1968) was a 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division and 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment search and destroy operation in Binh Thuan, Binh Tuy, and Lam Dong Provinces, RVN. On December 14th, a UH-1H (#66-16211) from the 240th Assault Helicopter Company (Greyhounds) flying in support of Klamath Falls experienced a transmission failure in the Boa Loc Pass in Binh Thuan Province, RVN, causing the aircraft to crash and burn. There were no survivors. The lost crew included aircraft commander 1LT Haron L. Brown II, pilot WO1 William K. Clawson, crew chief SP5 Matthew P. Amaral III, and gunner SP4 Ronny K. Kindred. Reportedly, this aircraft was “Red X’ed” (grounded) the evening before by Amaral and another crew chief at Bearcat Base Camp after they detected a rubber seal failure on the input-output quill connecting the helicopter engine and transmission. The two crew chiefs determined sand had gotten behind the rubber seal causing the input-output oil reservoir to leak. They believed the leakage was serious enough to place the aircraft on a non-flyable status. Paperwork was turned into the flight tower, and they retired for the night. However, sometime before morning, the flightline Sergeant took the helicopter off Red-X status and put it back into service as a flyable helicopter. Around noon the following day, word got back to the base camp that a helicopter was lost. An inquiry into the accident was conducted with unreported results. A memorial service for the four lost crewmen was performed by the base chaplain at Bearcat in the days following the loss. [Taken from vhpa.org and information provided by Roger D. McLean (June 2022)]

You were a friend to my father, William Reeves, who had a little girl at home.
You saved his life and for that I am forever grateful. He misses you and wishes you were enjoying life with your family. Thank you Matt. I wish we could have met....
Love, Karen Reeves