Memoria Reflections — Never Forgotten 34 Memorial Program

The following reflection was printed on page 2 of the program for the Never Forgotten 34 Memorial Ceremony, held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on May 10, 2022 — fifty years to the day after the crash. It was written by the veterans of the Angry Skipper Association in memory of the thirty-four men lost aboard CH-47A 64-13157.

Memoria Reflections

Thirty-four young men, our nation's best, died for their country on that fateful day of 10 May 1972. These thirty-four have haunted our memories — knowing it could have been us. And, we surmised the impact on their loved ones at home. These men were our combat buddies. They reflected the special bonds that had been built in months of combat missions. For some it was their second tour. For all of us that grieved them, special commemorative services were held at both Firebase Melanie and at Bien-Hoa Rear, and, then we went on with combat operations. It was, after all, the middle of Tet Easter Offensive 1972 when the North Vietnamese attacked in our area of combat operations with five full divisions.

Fifty years later we are gathering to honor our Never Forgotten 34 in a special way. We want to recognize them as war heroes, have this special memoriam service here at the Nation's Vietnam Memorial, and to share with the Families of the Fallen their soldiers' stories, pictures, and video clips celebrating lives well lived — and the dreams they never realized.

We know that the Never Forgotten 34 will always live in our hearts — as well as yours, the families of the fallen. They live — because they are remembered in our hearts. They are honored in our thoughts and prayers. We all are witness that their supreme sacrifice for our nation should never be forgotten by the next generations. And, when we have joined them in the folds of Our Lord, our nation needs to continue to honor these war heroes — and their families — for their intrepid service, their loss, and their willingness to defend our freedoms.