THE WALL OF FACES

Chief Warrant Officer Joesph Thaxter Clark, Served with the 334th Assault Helicopter Company, 145th Aviation Battalion, 12th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade, United States Army Vietnam.

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…..

Dear CWO Joseph Clark,
Thank you for your service as a Medium Transport Helicopter Pilot. Your 50th anniversary is at the end of this end...sigh. December has begun, along with all the preparations. 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.

Dear CWO Joseph Thaxter Clark, 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

'Firefly' missions involved a UH-1 equipped with an infrared visible searchlight. The missions, obviously flown at night, usually included a command helo, a gunship, and the Firefly aircraft. The Firefly aircraft moved along at low altitude, using the IR searchlight to locate targets. When the gunship gained position, the Firefly crew would turn on the visible light and literally light up the target to be attacked. The primary drawback to Firefly was the need to operate at low altitudes and speeds at night, something which leaves very little room for error.
On 26 Dec 1967 a Firefly UH-1D (tail number 65-09948) from the 334TH AHC departed Bien Hoa Airbase on a mission somewhere in Bien Hoa Province. While the specific location is not known, what happened is: the Huey's engine failed at low altitude, the aircraft crashed and exploded, and five men died:

Aircrew, 334TH AHC
CW2 Joseph Thaxter Clark, aircraft commander
WO1 Robert Edwin Woods, co-pilot
SP4 Raymond Spencer Adams, gunner
SP4 Gerald Loyd Rowen II, crew chief


Observer, 525th MI Group
MAJ Willie T. Brickhouse, Eastville, VA