Edward Clay Hester

April 2, 1948 - December 3, 2023

  

 

Edward Clay Hester, 75

A resident of the Forest Grove community died Sunday, December 3, 2023 at his home.

 

Graveside

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

2:00PM

Willamette National Cemetery

11800 SE Mt. Scott Blvd

Portland, OR 97086

Randy Gilliam

Eddie flew my aircraft that I was the door gunner on many times. He was a great pilot and got us out of some bad situations a few times. I was never worried if he was in the left seat. We had a lot of great times at the reunions in through the years and I never forget those times. Eddie, Tim, and I had plans to go back to Vietnam in the spring. I’ll miss the phone calls and great fellowship. My thoughts and prayers are with you all, you had a great dad and loving husband.

Barry Beard

I only had the honor of meeting Eddie once at the dedication of a Memorial to our Lancer war dead, but his good humor and authentic personality made quite an impression on me. We were both Lancer pilots at different times in Vietnam. I had some major surgeries this summer and Eddie called to check on me. He casually mentioned he had cancer but gave no indication he was concerned. We talked several times during the summer checking on one another and became very clear to me that he was a man of faith! I will miss talking to him and his corny FB posts, but know he is with his Savior Jesus CHRIST.

Tim Delong, Lancer 54

A great pilot a good friend and an amazing human being. You will be missed my Brother. Rest in peace

James Ballard

So sorry to receive the news of Eddie Hesters passing.  May he Rest in Peace.

Richard J Metzger

 

RIP My brother. You were one of the best! I’ll miss you my friend! A Lancer through and through! 🙏

 

 

Gordon Parks and Miss Sallee Call

 

Rest in Peace Sir. Slow Hand Salute from Miss Sallee and I.

 

"ALF" & Miss Sallee

 

Brian Weltch

 

Rest in Peace Brother!

 

Barry Beard

 

This is indeed heart wrenching news. I only met Eddie at the placing of the monument at Fort Campbell in November. He called me during my recovery, and we made a point to check in on each other over the summer. While I knew he was dealing with cancer, he never gave any hint of the seriousness of his condition.  Just last week I was giving him a hard time on FB about one of his puns, and he laughed.

Eddie was definitely a man of Faith, and I believe he is with his SAVIOR, CHRIST.

 

Patrick Nickolls

 

Very sad news. Prayers for Eddie's family for peace of mind and a strong spirit. We know that Eddie is at peace now and pain-free, but he will be missed. We will see him again in God's time.

 

Patrick and Wendy Nickolls

 

Reggie Kenner

 

CRAP! I only met Eddie at the 101st reunions but I really liked that guy. Sail on my brother.

Reggie

 

Dennis Souza

 

This is very sad news. I have flown with Eddie several times. I found him several years ago and we reconnected. Just last summer Eddie made a point to come to my house to visit with me and a mutual friend and brother Richard Otis who was my platoon leader in basic and also served with the 158th, not a Lancer. Eddie was looking very frail at that time but would not let on to how sick he really was. On his parting he gave me a big brotherly hug leaving me the feeling that this may be the last time I would see him. Please keep me updated if there will be any services.

Here is a picture of Richard (on left) Eddie in the center and me taken about 4 or 5 years ago when they surprised me with a visit.

 

Bob Archer

 

I also flew with Eddie in 1970. Farewell my friend. You will be sorely missed.

Bob Archer

Lancer 24

 

Dennis Forster

 

This is very sad news. I talked to Eddie a little over a month ago about our time together in Vietnam and better times in Fula, Germany…He never mentioned bad health. If we are collecting donations, please let me know.

 

Dennis F.

 

Bill Walker

 

Man, I am so sorry to learn of Eddie’s passing!

I will add more soon.

I flew with him a lot as a co-Pilot, and the. As a fellow AC on some incredible missions.

He was a warrior of the first degree.

More tomorrow.

Is there an obituary?

I’d like to leave comments on it, too.

Bill 17

 

 

Dennis Souza

 

I have made arrangements to attend. It is about a 3-hour drive one way for me. The only services will be at the Willamette National Cemetery. If anyone else is planning to go they can contact me at: 360-608-1591.

Dennis Souza

 

Barry Beard

 

It must have been Eddie’s chicken plate we would have had to put on as we sat in the pilot’s chair at the O’Club to recount the story when we took hits. One small miscue in the telling would be a reason for getting doused with beer!

 

Bill Walker

 

I flew with Eddie a good bit as his right seat, and later as a fellow pilot.

I was his right seat on a Killer Team extraction once when the C&C bird lost us while we were nap-of-the-earth at max speed.

I’m sure everyone recalls that at that speed and scant 1-2 feet AGL, it was impossible to navigate.

C&C would advise when to turn or flair to pick up the Killer Team. Since C&C lost us, they instructed us to continue, and they would find us. Neither of us was very happy about that, but we didn’t want to get above the tree tops in the Z. Suddenly, the Song Bo river passed below us, and that was my first trip into North Vietnam.

When we advised C&C about the border we had just crossed, they found us and directed us to the LZ, and we took no fire.

 

Two last Hester stories.

I was his right seat when we were instructed to insert a sniper team into the foothills of Rocket Ridge.

We were told to make several touch and goes both before and after actually dropped them off.

So, we did as instructed.

On about the third stop, the spotter got out, but Eddie took off. The shooter was still on board.

I could see the spotter watching us pull away with pure terror on his face until we turned back and picked him up. The spotter found it considerably less humorous than the rest of us.

 

The other “fake insertion” took place when I was a first pilot and had my own aircraft.

Somebody at Division thought it would be a good idea to pretend to insert troops into the deserted Firebase Kathryn, below the Lazy W.

Eddie, with Tom Smith as his right seat were flight lead for our five-ship formation.

We had no gun support since it wasn’t really an insertion. When Eddie touched down, an RPG came flying out of a bunker straight ahead. Tom Smith described it as looking like a football that was coming toward him.

It passed to the side of the aircraft and exploded.

Eddie yelled over the that he had been hit and thought he had lost his little finger of his left hand.

Turned out it was a minor wound from shrapnel, but still gave him his second Purple Heart.

Like dutiful soldiers, we all proceeded to the LZ, too. The bad guys had abandoned the bunker thank God.

Eddie was a very good combat pilot, and it was an honor to serve with him.

Bill 17

 

 

Marty Hamblin

I flew with Eddie Hester several times. A great pilot. Rest in peace my brother, we will miss you. Condolences to the family. Marty Hamblin Lancer door gunner.

 

Steve (RS16)

About the toughest time of year to lose a family member……an empty chair at the holiday table.

 

Richard J Metzger

Bill, I think you pretty much nailed it. I think the after-action report said they discovered an underground hospital that we landed on. The only thing I don’t remember is being knocked out. I think we took over 30 hits from the mast forward. Eddie told me it we had 56 hits total! Sure was glad he was wearing his vest! RIP my friend!

 

Marty Hamblin

Dave Hagland was his CE who knocked out a machine gunner.  Not that this is anything important, but on that same day working the Delta project, our crew as well got the grape shot out of us on an extraction of a CCN recon team deep over the DMZ.  We had two KIA's and the others were WIA's.  The whole team was shot to hell.  I can't remember who the two pilots were, and I think Randy Stankewicz was my CE.  I took a round in the chicken plate as I was firing at the enemy.  The impact of the hit to my plate shattered the middle of the plate and knocked the wind out of me. I thought I had been hit. But I stayed firing my M60 as best as I could until we got clear. We had over 40 hits in the craft.  Does anyone remember this flight?  This was a later flight in the day close to getting dark. I don't want to steal any thunder away from Eddie Hester and his crew. They were lucky to get out of there alive. Eddie was unbelievable with all of his injuries that he sustained in the LZ. 

 

Bill Walker

Hi Marty, Great to hear from you.

I heard about your flight that day and about your close call. I can’t remember who the pilots were. You and Randy did a hell of a job getting the team and putting continuous fire at the same time. I’m glad I wasn’t on that mission!

 

 

Eddie Hester Pictures Richard Metzger shared at the Memorial ceremony.  He was my co-pilot that day.