I finally found you
Posted for: EDGAR BOWIE LUEALLEN:

It was years after you died that I found out you were just 20 years old when you gave your life for your men. I was 25 at the time,
had three years with the 5th and 7th Special Forces, but you seemed so much older and experienced. All of us in your Squad looked up to you. You had that presence about you that said "Follow me, I will get you through this". When it was time to kick back, you always looked after your men. You took your responsibility as
Squad Leader seriously, and carried out that duty as you saw it, with dignity, courage, honor, and compassion. I had met many men by that time who held the position of Squad leader. They ranged from hero to coward. You Sgt. Lueallen were a world apart from all the others. You were the one everyone wanted to be like. It was like you understood everything around you, and what it was that had to be done to insure the lives of your men, and the success of the mission. Those in the other Squads wanted to be in your Squad. We were proud to be your squad members, and we knew that much of the fear that accompanies combat was
spared us, because of your leadership. That night of your death was unbelievable. Our ambush seemed routine until we heard that burp gun, and no return fire. Then another burst and the Platoon Sgt. wanted someone to check it out. You stepped forward without a word, and we who followed you knew everything would be OK. When we found the first listening post, he looked dead. It turned out he made it because you got him back before he bled to death. The second man was not wounded, but was comatose from fright. In order to recover the second man, someone had to go forward for security. You sent us back with the 2nd man, and
went forward yourself. It was then that we heard two reports, one a burp gun, the other an M-16. We found both you and the VC dead. You were always the leader and hard charger. It was the way you lived, and that is the way you died. For years I tried to find your relatives. My family and I stayed at Uchee Creek Campground (Ft. Benning Ga.) for a year, attempting to find a family member. We found several Lueallens, but they were all from up North, and did not know of you. It was like you had no family. Finally I made contact with your high school friend Bob McCloud. The story of why we all lost contact with you, as though you never existed as a warrior, except in the minds of your men, has finally been understood. You were an SP/4 with Charlie Company, and the leadership saw the leadership qualities in you. As a result, you were made an acting Sgt. and attached to B Company. Here in the 1st Platoon, you became the Squad Leader of the Squad I was in. I never told you how glad I was that I was in your squad. You gave to your squad the example that enabled many of us to go to the sounds of the guns with couarge and honor. I am glad to see that they finally made you a permanent E-5 Sgt. (posthumously). The mix-up since your were not permanently assigned to B Co. or made a permanent Sgt. in your permanent records, and how you died is finally understood. I am glad I have the opportunity to say "Thank-you", for the way you took care of all of us right to the end. Sgt Lueallen, we did our best to carry on your example to the best of our abilities. Everyone who knew you before you went to Vietnam, knew you as the fun loving kid that you were. We only knew you as Sgt. Lueallen "The Man".

I will insert a picture I took of you when we took a break at a river crossing. You posted M-60 machine-guns on the high grounds, and then stayed right with us until we had washed, and refreshed ourselves. You can see the other NCO's in the background cooling their heels, but not you, you were always there for us. That's why I cherish this picture of you. I'll also insert a picture of the Scouts. I would have never been the member I was, if it were not for your example. I was the sniper on the Scouts, and earned two Bronze Stars w/valor. one Army Commendation w/valor, and a Purple Heart. These awards are as much yours as they are mind. Rest peacefully Sgt. Lueallen, you are remembered as a warrior should be remembered, and that is in the hearts of his men. Scoat the Scout, B Co. 1st 327 Inf. 101st Abn Div. 1966-67 Vietnam
Posted by: Jim Wainscoat in South Dakota
Email: Scoat_jamesrose@yahoo.com
Relationship: Sgt Lueallen was my Squad Lrd
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
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