My walk was dedicated in honor of :
Army SSGT David Paul Spears, Age 35 from Rogersville, TN.
KIA July 24, 1966 in Vietnam
He was assigned to Schofield Barracks with Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 9th Artillery, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry.
Mr Spears enlisted into the Army in August of 1951 at the age of 20. He served two tours in Korea. He was also stationed in Columbus, GA at Fort Benning, before going to Vietnam. SSGT Spears left for Vietnam from Hickam Air Force Base in Dec. of 1965 as part of Operation Blue Light, known as one of the largest and longest airlifts of personnel and cargo into a combat zone in military history. As part of the 3rd Brigade, he had been one of four thousand soldiers deployed to Vietnam’s Central Highlands.
His unit was a part of Operation Paul Revere 1, It was during this Operation that he was killed.
His name is on the Wall at Panel 9E, Line 71
SSGT Spears was awarded Bronze Star(Valor), Purple Heart, Good Conduct, National Defense, Vietnam Service, and Vietnam Campaign Medals.
Had an amazing walk. I like to thank everyone that honked and waved in helping me honor this hero. It was a great walk.
Thank you, Tim, for honoring my father this way. As a fellow Tennessean, he’d love that you honored him this way.
Thank you Karen, I am glad that I could honor him and we want you to know that your sacrifices have not been forgotten. We will keep his memory alive.