To the left of the smaller plaque next to the memorial stone.

A tall rectangular plaque on a stone base stands at the site, commemorating the fallen soldiers. Inscribed in English, it lists the names, ranks, and roles of each soldier and airman who perished. The plaque was crafted by students of the Staatliches Berufsschule Pegnitz.

 On August 18, 1971, a U.S. Army CH-47A Chinook (66-19023) crashed near Pegnitz, Bavaria, after a rotor blade failure caused the aircraft to lose control. The helicopter was transporting soldiers of HHC, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, together with its aircrew from the 4th Aviation Company, 15th Aviation Group, from Ludwigsburg to Grafenwöhr for training. All 37 onboard, 33 soldiers and 4 crew were killed, marking the deadliest peacetime U.S. military accident in West Germany since World War II.

Source of information: de.wikipedia.org, www.dvidshub.net

IN MEMORIAM

TO OUR FELLOW SOLDIERS, THE MEN OF HHC, 2ND BATTALION, 4TH INFANTRY,

AND MEMBERS OF THE 4TH AVIATION COMPANY, 15TH AVIATION GROUP,

WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN A HELICOPTER CRASH AT PEGNITZ,

GERMANY, 18 AUGUST 1971

WHILE IN SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY

2ND BATTALION, 4TH INFANTRY

HEAVY MORTAR PLATOON

COMMUNICATIONS PLATOON

1LT JOHN E. ECHTERLING JR                   BN COMMO OFFICER

15TH AVIATION GROUP

FLIGHT CREW

MADE BY STUDENTS OF THE STAATLICHE BERUFSCHULE PEGNITZ