William Ernst Obituary

On behalf of the Forward Air Controllers Association (FACA), please accept our sincere condolences for your loss. It is our loss as well, besides Bill being a fellow aviator, we considered him a brother.
Bill belonged to a special group of elite aviators, Forward Air Controllers, or FACs. The FAC mission was one of the most dangerous during the Southeast Asia war. To perform it required immense courage and devotion to duty.
Because of Bill´s courage (as attested by his Distinguished Flying Cross), his devotion to duty, and his unselfish love for his fellow man, many of our American and Allied troops survived the war in Southeast Asia to return home to their loved ones.
On behalf of his fellow FACs, we will mail a letter to his last address at Hikianalia Place with with the FAC Tribute document presented as a means of honoring one of our own. We hope you will cherish this small memento that explains the FAC mission and your father´s devotion to God and Country.
Rest assured, Bill, who used the "Rustic 04 and Nail 09" FAC call signs while flying OV-10 missions in Southeast Asia with the 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron, will live on in the memories of his fellow FACs. I pray God will console your entire family and comfort you with fond memories of your shared lives.

In closing, if I may be of any assistance to you during this especially difficult time, please don´t hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Bob Cohen, Nail238
Vice President
The Forward Air Controllers Association
5737 Leeward Lane
Granite Falls, NC 28630