This is a list of those FACs who took their last flight during 2019 and some from other years because we recently learned of their passing

Flew West 2019 Slow hand salute to these brave warriors.

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Announcements:

• 01/11/2020: William P. Applegate, Nail 59, Spike 59, and Hammer 59 passed on 21 January 2019.  He lived in south central Florida. However, his memorial service will be at 0830, 30 Jan 2020, at the Fort Myer Memorial Chapel, Arlington, Virginia, followed by graveside service and burial in Arlington National Cemetery. After the service attendees are invited to a small reception at Patton Hall on Fort Myer.  His obituary can be read at  https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/heraldtribune/obituary.aspx?n=william-p-applegate&pid=191772566.
  

• 12/29/2019: Rae Clyde Hodges, Covey 524, flew West 23 Sep 2018. Rae flew O-2s for the 20th TASS Sep 1969 to Aug 1970.  He was awarded a Silver Star.  He flew KC-135s until he retired in 1996 as a Lt Col. and was a life member of the Association. Read more on his life at https://www.shriderthompson.com/obits/obituary.php?id=667857 (Note:There is an error in the obituary.  Rae flew O-2s not B-52s during his tour in SEA)
  

• 12/22/2019: Jon R. McMurtry, Nail 66, flew West on 13 Dec 2019.  Jon was assigned to the 23rd TASS at NKP and Phan Rang from Mar 1968 to Mar 1969.  He was an O-2 pilot and a life member of the Association. 
  

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• 12/07/2019: Bill Marlin, Red Marker 04, has flown West.  Bill was assigned to the 19th TASS from Apr 1968 to 69.  He flew O-1s and was a life member of the Association.           

• 11/25/2019: Bill Caruthers, Rustic 34, took his last flight on Monday evening, 20 Nov 2019.  A service will be held Saturday, 7 Dec 2019, in Charlotte.  Bill, a Night Rustic flying the O2-A, joined the Rustics in mid-1971 at Bien Hoa. When the Night Rustics dispersed in late September 1971, Bill moved to TSN with the Sundogs. He supported An Loc during the Easter Offensive by the NVA in April 1972. After separating from the Air Force, he flew with Delta until being medically retired due to Parkinson’s disease.  He fought one helluva battle with his disease for more than a decade.   

Bill and Chris’s email is billc114@gmail.com.

Claude Newland

 

William B. Carruthers, Jr. died 20 November 2019 after after living with Parkinson's disease for more than a decade. He was a FAC in SEA 1971-1972 and may be recognized by some Red Hats by his Sundog call sign as having covered the Battle of An Loc during the 1972 Easter Offensive. As you are aware, the Red Marker FACs disbanded in January 1971, so the Red Hats and Red Berets depended after that time upon Vietnamese Air Force FACs or other USAF FACs such as Nails and Coveys and Sundogs for close air support.

The Airborne was instrumental in defending An Loc after it was surrounded by NVA attackers. The 1st Airborne Brigade made up of the 5th, 6th, and 8th Battalions and the 81st Ranger Battalion attacked up Highway 13 to relieve the defenders at An Loc but were stopped south of the city. The units along with some artillery were then helicoptered around the NVA blockade. The 6th Battalion defended a firebase set up for the howitzers while the 5th, 8th, and the Rangers fought their way into the town. A regiment of NVA overran one company of the 6th and the other two companies had to retreat to a hot extraction some days later. Refit and resupplied, the reconstituted 6th would rejoin the fight a few weeks later to successfully lift the siege.

Meanwhile, the defenders at An Loc fought house to house against NVA infantry and tanks. The Airborne depended upon layers of air support: Army gunships provided the closest support within the town; the Sundog FACs who kept three birds airborne around the clock directed TACAIR and Spectre support at the perimeter; Vietnamese Air Force FACs directed TACAIR outside that perimeter; and B-52s plastered the approaches to the city and NVA troop concentrations beyond the VNAF AO. Additionally, C-130's parachuted supplies into the surrounded defenders.

When the reformed 6th Battalion attacked form the south and joined up with the 8th, it was clear that the NVA had been defeated. The Brigade was then pulled from An Loc sent north as a backup to the forces preparing to retake Quang Tri. The 1st Brigade lost 346 troopers KIA in the Battle of An Loc with 1.093 WIA and 66 MIA. Nine Red Hat advisors were WIA during the fight. The casualties would have undoubtedly been larger had not Sundog 34 and his comrades braved withering fire to support the troops.

Slow hand salute to a brave warrior,

Gary Willis, Red Marker 18

A celebration of Bill's life will be held on Saturday December 7th at Heritage Funeral Home , 3700 Forest Lawn Drive, Matthews, NC 28079.  Visitation from 2 - 3 PM with celebration outside following.   https://www.heritagecares.com 

• 11/21/2019: Charles Waterman, (LTC USAF Ret.) Red Marker ALO the last half of 1971, passed away 9 Nov 2019 in Wenatchee, WA. His wife Mary Ann preceded him in death in 2016 and is buried at the USAF Academy where Chuck graduated in 1960. His remains will be interred next to his wife at a ceremony 13:00 hours, 31 Mar 2020.
  Chuck was the earliest Academy grad to serve with the Red Markers and the only one to serve as ALO.  Slow hand salute to another warrior
  
  
• 10/23/2019: Robert Karl (Bob) Selke, (Col USAF Ret) Flew West on Friday 27 September 2019. Bob flew 462 missions as a FAC in 1969-70 with the 19th TAS and 22nd TAS.  To read his obituary click here. 
  

• 8/30/2019: Skip Smothermon, Helix 41 and life member, passed away on 16 August 2019.  His career included duties as an IP at Webb and Randolph AFBs and with the 3541st TAC Fighter Squadron.  He was an Air Liaison Officer and Forward Air Controller while serving with the Americal Division at Chu Lai in Vietnam.  Other assignments were as a fighter pilot at George AFB, Udorn and Hahn ABs.  At Hahn he became the Operations Officer and then at Shaw AFB he became the Director of Command and Control for the 9th AF.  His awards include: 1 Silver Star, 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 2 Bronze Stars, 1 Purple Heart, 18 Air Medals and an Air Force Commendation Medal.  Skip was the Sheriff on the FACNET.  He will be missed.  Slow hand salute.
  


• 8/30/2019: James B. "Briggs" Diuguid, Raven 26, Walt 21/23, and Chamba 04, has flown west.  Briggs flew O-1s, O-2s, T-28s and U-17s and a member.  What follows is notice of his passing. 
  
• Gentlemen; 
  With deep regret, I inform you of the passing of Briggs Diuguid the night of August 27, 2019. 
  Briggs flew as Raven 26 from Feb ’71- Oct, ’71.  He also went back for another tour from Spring, ‘74- Spring, ’75, training the Khmers in Phnom Penh. 
  
  Details of a memorial service at Ft Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola NAS will be forthcoming. A possible date of 18 Sep is being explored. This is NOT firm. 
  
  Cards are welcome.  No flowers, please. Donations in Briggs’ memory may be made to EAPLS (Scholarship), 330 Brookhollow, New Braunfels, TX, 78132 or Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, 105 North “S” Street, Pensacola, Fl 32505 (donate on line  go to:pensacolawildlife.com, Click on  DONATE) 
  
  For my 442nd TFW buds, many times I heard Briggs talk about his days with us. He really enjoyed them and took great pride in his contributions. Here is a snippet from his obit: 
  
  He was privileged to serve as the Air Force advisor to the Air Force Reserve’s 442^nd Tactical Fighter Wing during their conversion to the A-10. The enlisted force at the 442^nd made him an honorary Chief Master Sergeant, an award he treasured.
  
  Briggs was a fine officer,  a fellow combat aviator, and a great friend. He is sorely missed. To him, a tearful hand salute.
  
  Darrel Whitcomb
  


• 8/12/2019: Robert C. Kirk, a Helix FAC, flew west on August 3, 2019.  Bob is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jane.  He flew OV-10s out of Chu Lai and DaNang July 70-71.  He was a life member.
  


• 5/22/2019: Hall S. Elliott, Covey Easy, flew west on 22 May 2019.  Hall was a navigator thus had letter rather than a numbered call sign.  He primarily flew night missions over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in the O-2 from January 1970 to January 1971.  He was a life member of the FAC Association, a friend and brother.  Slow hand salute - We will meet again.
  


• 5/12/2019: Lt Col Timothy D. Caruthers, a Nail FAC, passed on in
  
• 13 January 2019.  His family is looking to talk to some one who knew him then.  Tim was flew O-2s in 1970/71 for the 23rd TASS.  He most likely over Laos.  His obituary read at https://hillfhpuyallup.com/tribute/details/141817/Timothy-Caruthers/obituary.html
  


• 3/22/2019: Roger Tarr, Cider 30/31, timed out on 19 Mar 2019.  Details


• 3/21/2019: Major Gen. John T. Buck, Jade 03, flew west 18 May 2019.  Obituary-click here


• 3/18/2019: Cecil Waggoner, David 33/Beaver, flew west.


• 3/11/2019: Joe M. Jackson, Medal of Honor recipient, flew west 12 Jan 2019.  Rescue at Kham Duc