Wayne was my best friend for a year. We were both enlisted
men in the US Army and served together at Camp Howard, South
Korea in 1963 (38th Artillery Brigade, Air Defense). Wayne was
very intelligent, interested
in everything and had a wry sense of humor. He displayed a quiet
strength
of character that everyone in our unit respected. I left Korea
first when
my enlistment ended, and came home to my wife and son and
enrolled at UCLA.
Wayne later re-enlisted and became a warrant officer and
helicopter pilot.
I managed to get a letter to him when he was recovering in
Georgia from a
leg wound received in Vietnam. He answered, but regretfully I
delayed answering
back and we lost contact around 1965.
In 1999 I tried to locate him using the Internet and
discovered that Wayne had been killed in action in Vietnam in
1968. His helicopter had
been shot down near Quang Tri. At that time he was serving in
the First
Cavalry (D/229 AHB).
I often think about Wayne and the laughter and friendship we
shared.
Whenever I happen to hear the song "Silver Threads and Golden
Needles" it
reminds me of hanging out at the canteen with Wayne at Camp
Howard. That
song was popular then and we both liked it. It seems profoundly
unfair that
I have had so many years that he did not. I am hoping someone
who also knew
Wayne will someday search on his name and discover this page. If
so, please
email me. Thanks, Daniel W.
VanArsdale. January, 2000
Vietnam Memorial names
(searchable)
Vietnam
Helicopter Pilots Association - information.
David J.
Brouchard's tribute page to Wayne.
Silver
Threads and Golden Needles - by The Springfields.
(January, 2006) I wish to thank those who have emailed
who knew
Wayne while he was in Korea or Vietnam. One veteran confirmed
that Wayne
died trying to help others. Knowing Wayne, this came as no
surprise. The
following photograph of Wayne is supplied by David Brouchard,
who was Wayne's
sergeant at Camp Howard.
(February 23, 2020) I received the following link:
https://army.togetherweserved.com/army/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApps?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=39891
from Jim Reece, Photo Researcher for the Vietnam War. It contains
many photos and newspaper clippings regarding Wayne Bell.