OUR DAD
Glen E. Wallace
(09-11-35 to 05-19-66)
married
Virginia L. Crews
(08-11-36 to )
April 2,1956 at
Forbes Field in
Topeka, Kansas
Dad was born in West Virginia, he was raised on a farm. I have only been there twice, it is falling apart now but the land is beautiful, set back in a little valley with trees all around. You have to go past the Wallace Cemetary where dad is buried to get there.
Mom was born in Missouri and raised on a farm. I was never able to visit the farm but she says it was wonderful, it is now part of Truman Reservoir.
Larry is now married to Lori and they have three daughters, Andrea, Katie, and Dena. Andrea has three daughters, Dena has one daughter.
Susan has three sons, Tracy, Casey, and Derek.
Sondra and I do not have children.
After bath time
From right is Dad, Larry, Susan, Sondra and Cheryl.
These men were killed in the same crash, this comes from a copy of a memorial page that was given during a ceremony on May 24, 1966 at the chapel on Kadena Air Base. CAPTAIN Benny T. Stowers, Pilot, CAPTAIN Charles T. Hafendorfer, Navigator, LT. James N. Spangler, Co-Pilot, LT. Ronald W. Ringwall, Navigator, TSGT. Franklin Waters, Hyd. Spec, SSGT. Charles T. Stuart, Boom Operator, SSGT. Clyde H. Crow, E.B.U., A1C Kenneth Alston, Asst. Crew Chief, A1C Marvin L. Dooley, E.B.U., A1C Thomas R. Annis, Hyd. Spec.
May 19, 1966 in Okinawa Japan. Our Dad's KC-135 was not scheduled to make this flight but was chosen because the original plane was not ready for flight. The original tail number was 1491.
It was stormy, the flight was moved forward to take advantage of better weather conditions. We have a record of conversation the control tower had with someone in charge, they were trying to time it so when the wind gusted the plane would start its roll down the runway.
According to records; When the plane was airborne it banked to the left then the right, the right wing tip contacted the ground 450 feet past the runway. The number four engine struck and demolished a car driven by an Okinawan. It impacted again on the river embankment 720 feet from the runway where most of the debris was found.
There was a fire but we do not know if it happened on final impact or as it was rolling. A friend of the Navigator told his wife that none of the bodies were burnt. We do not have an autopsy report but the bodies all had severe head, facial, and cervical injuries.
The river where his body was found, rescue crews had to wait until the water receded to dive. The embankment is littered with debris as shown in the picture below.
The tail of the plane after it was ripped off by the impact. The tail number is 1444.
MY REFLECTION ON THE WALL by Larry G. Wallace
She was struggling. She needed help. So I asked her, "Ma'am would you like some help?" Although I did not see her tears I knew they were there when she answered, "Yes, please."
So I knelt down and took the slip of paper from her trembling hand, I suggested that she turn the crayon, that she held in her hand, on it's side. She did so and while I held the paper she was then able to complete what she had difficulty doing by herself. She was at Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall at the Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka.
My wife and I thought it important for our three daughters to visit the Moving Wall so that they might see their grandpa's name. Our intention of someday viewing the Vietnam Veterans Memoral Wall in Washington, D.C., with our daughters had not come to pass. We were taking the oppportunity to at least let them see a replica that is transported to many locations across the United States.
As my wife and daughters were looking at the names of my dad and of those killed with him, my attention was drawn to the lady standing next to us. The fact that she had been searching for a certain name became obvious when she exclaimed with much relief in her voice, "There he is." It was at that time she began attempting to make a "rubbing" of the name she had had difficulty finding.
With a little help, this lady, whom I did not know, was able to complete the rubbing of the name "David L. Baumgardner." It is unknown to me if this man, who fought and died in the Vietnam War, was a family member or a friend. I do know that after we both straightened up, she was grateful for the assistance and made it quite clear for she said "Thank You very much." It was then I saw her tears, and I could not help hearing her weep quietly as she looked one last time at the Wall before she walked away.
Finding one name among 58,202 can be overwhelming, but with a little help it can be done fairly quickly. The Moving Wall has the help you need. Volunteers are always available and willing to assist, and the directory lists all the names and on what numbered panel that they can be found.
My wife, knowing that I have visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington twice, and after viewing the Moving Wall, asked me how I felt when visiting these sites. I did not know how to answer her, but after a bit I told her that I wasn't sure I could describe how I felt. Viewing the wall can be very moving; I have always had to get my emotions in order when visiting it.
If you know our dad or anything about the crash that day please post a message, I would be interested in talking with you.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU goes to Lisa Hafendorfer, Ray McQueston and Tom for the information they provided.
I had felt a sense of relief that some recognition had finally been made for those that had fought and died, especially when my dad's name was added along with 109 other names in 1986. This recogniton was long overdue.
After taking time to reflect, I think the wall is about as American as you can get. I see the "little helps" that are available for those looking for a certain name of a friend or family member. I remember the words of Jan Scruggs, a Vietnam Veteran who envisioned a memorial for those who served during the Vietnam War, during the ceremony when the 110 names added on Memorial Day 1986. Scruggs made the statement that many of the names on the wall were of men who "died trying to help their buddies." I would like to suggest that all of the names on the wall and those names that will be added in the future are the names of men and women who were trying to help a fellow nation remain a free nation.
I remembered Scruggs words when I told my three girls, late one August night in 1990, that there were some people on the other side of the world who needed help and that my buddies and I were going to help them.
Americans have a long history of helping other nations -- some say we may help too much. Be that as it may, Americans have just as long, if not longer, a history of helping each other, no matter what their color or race.
Hundreds of thousands of American men and women have sworn to defend the Constitution of the United States of America, not just part of it, but all of it. Is it any wonder when those of us who know what that means become incensed when some of our highest officials on our government, who are also sworn to defend, not just part but all of the Constitution, pervert the Constitution by trying to make it say something that it doesn't or by trying to take some part away? They justify themselves by saying they are trying to "help" the American people. The American people, with God's help, can help themselves and each other when we the people remove their hindrances.
Finally, I think of the seemingly insignificant gesture of helping a fellow American take a rubbing of a name off a memorial wall of a past war, and I can't help but realize that that is about as American as you can get. I lost my dad 33 years ago, so much of what I know about my dad I learned from others. His influence has still been enough for me to try and conduct myself in a manner that I have tried not to be an embarrassment to my God, my family, my mother, my country, my unit, and myself.
I am an American because I have helped those of other nations and those of my own. It would be impossible for me to list the times that I have been helped by my fellow Americans.
There are those who say that the Vietnam Memorial Wall has been helping a nation heal itself. Well, if that is so, then the wall is about as American as you can get.
PANEL 7E
ROW 95
A book that shares some history of the tankers may still be available:
SAC TANKER OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIA WAR by Charles Hopkins
