THE WALL OF FACES

Captain Don Thomas Elledge, Served with Special Detachment 5981 (SD-5891), Headquarters, Military Assistance Command Vietnam Advisors, Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV).

Every day, for 56 years, you have been loved and missed.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from George Finley is moving. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

In our class we are doing a project to remember these valiant men and woman who fight for our country. When I saw Don I knew I was going to look deeper into his profile. What amazed me off the bat is that he was kicked from the naval academy and then went on to join the army. It takes a lot of grit in people to get kicked out of something and then go back and help them. Also it shows me that I can help being just a regular person, You were an ordinary funny kid growing up in Texas and you became a captain of the U.S. army and led soldiers to victory through your death. From the bottom of my heart I want to thank you for what you did for our country

Unknown to me Don had written on his OF 41 that I take care of his affairs in case of his being killed in Vietnam. I was notified of his death when I was at Travis AFB on the way to VN. From the Oakland Army Depot I escorted his body to Mabank and helped his mother with the details of his funeral and burial. Then I continued back to VN. He was a beloved member of his community in Texas. Vietnamese were influenced by him in his sector in VN and as boat people they migrated to Mabank in 1975 where his mother got them integrated in the community. They have prospered and contributed to the success of Texas. They are Don's wonderful final tribute.