Lang, Benjamin Gaines, 1st Lt

1st Lt. Lang served with the 615th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force at Phan Rang AB.  His tour in SEA began on 8 September 1970.

US Air Force 1LT Benjamin Gaines Lang, Vietnam Veteran, Born in Greensboro, NC, he became a native of Gainesville, Florida.

US Air Force First Lieutenant Benjamin Gaines Lang was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Air Force, 1LT Lang served our country until April 28th, 1971 in Ninh Thuan, South Vietnam. He was 25 years old and was married. It was reported that Benjamin died when his plane crashed. His body was recovered. Benjamin was born on March 4th, 1946 in Greensboro, North Carolina. 1LT Lang is on panel 03W, line 016 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.

I was a friend of Ben's there in Vietnam. I was in Weapons and loaded the Jets he flew. We became friends while working on the "Alert Pad". I will always remember him and I always check his name when I go to the Vietnam wall. Thank all our veterans who gave their ALL for their country. I loaded bombs on his F-100 while in Vietnam. To my friend Gentle Ben. One day while driving my MJ1 bomb lift Ben made a comment on how fun it would be to drive that thing. I made a deal with him. I would show him how to drive it if he would give me a ride in his jet. He said ok and I let him drive it around the alert pad. About 2 days later he saw me again and ask if I was serious and I said I was. He started getting things worked out so that I could go with him on a combat mission. He died before I could go with him. Other pilots said they would take me up too but I only wanted to go with Ben. I never did go with anybody else. David McGaughey (ViperDave), 3448 Green Dr, Lexington, Ky 40517 Viperdmcg@aol.com.

High School Friend and My Chess partner. Ben and I were both pretty good math students at Gainesville (FL) High. When things were a little slow, we would pass a miniature chessboard back and forth, making one move at a time, while trying to keep the teacher from noticing what we were doing. I think she knew, and didn't bug us about it because we were doing well in the class anyway. Ben was a big guy, a tough football lineman, very intelligent and every inch a gentleman. Daniel Bowles.

I was a crew chief in Phan Rang. Lt Ben did not have his name on a ACFT so I painted his name on the back seat of the "F model I was crewed at the time, He came to the flight line for photo, I still see his smile. Msgt Jerry W. Wheeler(Ret), jerrywheel@gmail.com

He is the Son of Mr and Mrs Benjamin Gaines Lang Sr, Greensboro, NC.

He served with the 615th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force.

He was awarded The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The Air Medal with Multiple Oak Leaf Clusters.

I was a crew chief in Phan Rang. Lt Ben did not have his name on a ACFT so I painted his name on the back seat of the "F model I was crewed at the time, He came to the flight line for photo, I still see his smile. Jerry Wheeler ret. Posted by: Msgt. Jerry W. Wheeler RETIRED>
Email: jerrywheel@gmail.com
Relationship: We served together
Friday, January 29, 2010

	i am very proud to have someone i can claim as family who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. thank you uncle ben.
Posted by: John D. McGee Email: Relationship: He is my uncle Wednesday, April 16, 2008

	I was a friend of Ben's there in Vietnam. I was in Weapons and loaded the Jets he flew. We became friends while working on the "Alert Pad". I will always remember him and I always check his name when I go to the Vietnam wall. Thank all our veterans who gave thier ALL for thier country. Thanks Dave
Posted by: SSGT David McGaughey USAF (ViperDave) Email: PhanrRangNam@aol.com Relationship: We served together Saturday, April 16, 2005