James Richard Fortenberry
Specialist Four
HQ & SVC CO, 15TH MED BN, 1ST CAV DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Friona, Texas
June 12, 1946 to September 24, 1970
JAMES R FORTENBERRY is on the Wall at Panel W7, Line 86

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02 Jan 2004

Never Forgotten

James Richard Fortenberry, assigned to Headquarters Company, 15th Medical Battalion, was lost on 09-24-1970 when the rotating main blades from his UH-1H collided with the blades from another UH-1H which was parked in the adjoining revetment. James' helicopter was taxiing out of its revetment, getting ready for another mission. Upon impact the blades flexed and as James was standing outside his helicopter, the blade impacted James' body killing him.

I served with James Fortenberry when we were both flying as crew chiefs with the Medevac Platoon. We lived in the same hootch. After I rotated back to the United States on August 1970 I learned of his death from a friend who had remained behind.

I will always remember James. He was a fun loving red-headed Texan who was enjoyable to be around. I know he was looking forward to getting back to Texas when his time was up. But as fate would have it, I survived the war and he didn't. I will always be eternally grateful to James for doing his duty. He made the ulitmate sacrifice. I will never forget him.


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