My walk this morning was dedicated in honor of:
Army PFC John D Ward Jr. Age 20 of Lancing, TN.
KIA Jan. 31, 1968 in Vietnam
John was a Radio Operator with Advisory Team 33, Headquarters, Military Assistance Command Vietnam Advisors.
John died defending a wounded comrade, and in doing so has established a courageous example to all those who serve in uniform.
He was awarded the Purple Heart. He is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Morgan County, TN.
He is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on Panel 36E Line 041.
Doug went on and graduated Central High in 1965 and later worked at Caterpillar in Joliet, Illinois. In September of 1966 Doug was inducted into the United States Army. He underwent basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and advanced training at Fort Knox, Kentucky finally traveling to Fort Benning, Georgia where he volunteered for the training known as “Jump School” , to become an elite Army paratrooper. On July 14, 1967 Private First Class Ward arrived in Vietnam and was assigned to the 5891st Military Assistance Command Vietnam commonly referred to as MACV. Little did the 20 year old PFC Ward realize that he was arriving in Vietnam just before one of the most pivotal moments of the entire war.
It was Doug’s job to call in airstrikes or artillery fire from U.S. forces when superior numbers of enemy were encountered. Doug’s job as a radio operator along with serving on a MACV team is evidence that he must have been level headed soldier under fire. His important task dictated that PFC Ward would be located at the front lines of battle, and such was the case on the day he fell in the service of his country.
We had a great walk this morning. We visited the war memorials down town and we got to visit my Vietnam Veteran friend along the way. I want to thank everyone who honked and waved in helping me honor this hero. It was amazing.
He will not be forgotten !
