THE MEMORIAL I never had a chance to see your face, Look into your eyes, or touch your hand. No chance to live out your dreams Before they sent you to a foreign land. How do I thank someone I never knew To lay down your life, no questions asked. Fighting for freedom in a strange place In the face of death you kept on task. Close your eyes, brave pilot, and rest - your duty is over, you fought well. I will always keep you in my heart Your sacrifice I now know so well, The sound of taps floating through the air. A sound so familiar to family and friends To say goodbye the pain they endure Your name whispering in the wind. I will never have a chance to see your face, Look into your eyes or touch your hand. No chance to see your dreams come true. Lost forever in that foreign land, To die in vain you have not, Your soul in heaven forever more To thank you for your sacrifice To welcome you home from a war. THE MISSION On 17 October 1965, then LT Roderick Mayer, pilot, and LTJG David R. Wheat, RIO, launched from USS Independence in an F-4B. They were participating in a day strike mission against the Thai Nguyen bridge located approximately 38 miles north of Hanoi. At 1150 hours, their aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft artillery fire as they made a pass on the bridge. Although the crew made an effort to get "feet wet", the aircraft crashed near the town of Quang Lang, approximately 54 miles north of Haiphong and 65 miles northeast of Hanoi. The apparently successful ejections of both crewmen were witnessed by other aircrew and SAR efforts were immediately initiated. The SAR forces were hampered by enemy small arms fire and were unable to get close enough to determine the status of either crewman, although one crewman was observed over a period of two hours in a prone position, still in his parachute. Both Mayer and Wheat had disappeared from sight and enemy troops were seen in the area before rescue helicopters could reach the scene, and the SAR operation was terminated. Initially, both Mayer and Wheat were listed as presumed dead, but their status was changed to "Prisoner of War" when it was learned that Wheat, at least, had been captured alive. David Wheat returned to US control on 12 February 1973 during Operation Homecoming. In his debriefing he reported he believed Mayer was injured during ejection; although he did not know the extent of LT Mayer's injuries, he said that Mayer did not move, even when he was found by ground troops. A presumptive finding of death was made on 31 October 1977. Although the North Vietnamese must, in 1965, have had LCDR Mayer in hand - alive or dead - he has not been repatriated.

 

A memorial from one who wore his MIA bracelet, Stefanie L Waters yoursmineours@netzero.net  30 Aug 2001

Contact Us

© Copyright 1997-2019 www.VirtualWall.org, Ltd ®(TM)

Last update 08/15/2019.