(story features our member, Col. Stan Tyson, US Army (Ret) as keynote speaker at the event)
By Carole Robinson • Senior Staff Writer
Several hundred people disregarded the early morning heat to attend the annual Memorial Day Service in Veterans Park at Five Points Monday and to remember those who sacrificed their lives for their country and for freedom.
The solemn service included a wreath laying ceremony by 1-327th Inf Regt, 101st Abn Div, a flag presentation by the Tennessee National Guard Military Funeral Honor Team, and the announcement of the names on 29 bricks added to the Memorial Walkway and 20 bricks added to a new section of the walkway.
Before telling the story of a 1966 battle in which he played a part, Col. Stan Tyson, US Army (Ret), quoted a passage from a 1992 Memorial Day service in which President George H.W. Bush said, “We must tell the stories of those who fought and died in freedom’s cause. ... We must tell their stories so that our children and our grandchildren will understand what our lives might have been like had it not been for their sacrifice. ...”
Tyson’s story was the Battle of 10 ALFA, which started 50 years ago on May 28, 1966 at LZ (Landing Zone) 10 ALFA, one of 10 swampy clearings located west of Pleiku Province in South Vietnam’s Central Highlands near the Cambodian border.
A regiment of the 66th NVA (North Vietnamese Army) numbering more than 1,500 strong was moving out of Cambodia into South Vietnam along the Ho Chi Minh Trail heading to Pleiku. Their objective was to “cut South Vietnam in half,” Tyson said.
The 35th US Army stationed in Pleiku was given the mission to find the NVA and stop them.
“They were sent out to scan the border and fight them, stop them or hasten their return back to Cambodia,” Tyson said.
Helicopters dropped the 120 men of Bravo Co 2nd/35th Inf onto LZ 10 ALFA. While scanning the forest for signs of the enemy they found five unmanned tripod mounted heavy machine guns. It had been raining for 28 days with rain so hard the NVA soldiers who were manning the guns sought shelter from the rain in thicker canopy and didn’t hear the helicopters but they did hear their gunfire and gunfire from Bravo Co as they searched the forest.
The battle began with heavy gunfire from the NVA. They wanted to retake their guns and take out the small group of Americans. The situation got worse for Bravo Co as the NVA numbers increased and surrounded the LZ.
Alpha Co 1st/35th Inf Regt was sent in to reinforce Bravo, increasing the defensive numbers to 11 officers and 258 men, said Tyson, who was the executive officer with Alpha Co.
“What could have been a chance meeting of two battalions in the forest wasn’t a chance meeting,” Tyson said. “[The NVA] planned to take out the small group [of American soldiers] and march on [to Pleiku].”
The NVA plan might have worked if Alpha Co hadn’t arrived, he added. With their help and assistance, the second day from artillery and air support the 66th NVA was hit hard enough it wasn’t seen again until early in 1967.
On the American side, 18 men ranging from 18 to 34 years old were killed in action and 88 wounded. One soldier was killed after the battle and another died from his wounds in 1980.
Tyson and Lt. Larry Connor, one of the wounded, read the names of the 20 soldiers, which were etched in bricks installed in the new section of Memorial Walk.
“I was privileged to serve in a company of heroes – they were the best of America,” Connor said, who traveled from Ohio for the ceremony.
“Fifty years have passed – to some of us it was just yesterday,” said Tyson. “The men [who died] were from 15 states and Puerto Rico. They are here, forever situated together and with friends. Those with them can rest assured they will never be forgotten by the citizens of Williamson County, Tennessee.”
The Williamson County Community Band played patriotic music before, during and after the ceremony. Chaplain Bob Talbert said the invocation and benediction, the 1-327th Inf Regt, 101st Abn Div Color Guard from Fort Campbell posted and retired the colors, the 4BN, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) provided the 21-gun salute and a bugler from 129th Army Band played Taps.
“I look forward to this every year,” said Gold Star Mom, Joyce Mount. “It’s very important in my life.”
Anson Christian Jr., Williamson County Veteran’s Affairs Officer, organized the 2016 Memorial Day Service.
http://www.williamsonherald.com/news/article_babb6406-2733-11e6-b93e-0f6...
