THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Mameluke Thrust (May 19 - October 23, 1968) was 1st Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force a search and destroy mission into Happy Valley southwest of Da Nang in Quang Nam Province, RVN. The objective of Mameluke was spoiling attacks against North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong base areas and to preempt any planned offensive against Allied complexes in the Da Nang area. At 7:00 AM on September 2, 1968, C Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines was conducting a combat sweep near the hamlet of My Hoa (1), eight kilometers (4.8 miles) northwest of An Hoa Air Field, when it received intense small arms and automatic weapons fire from an unknown size enemy unit. The company returned fire with unit weapons and called Marine artillery and air strikes on the enemy positions. A sweep of the battle area located six North Vietnamese Army dead and several captured items including one M16 rifle barrel, six Chinese Communist grenades, and assorted documents. The company sustained four killed and five wounded requiring medical evacuation. The lost Marines included SGT Howard W. Jones, CPL Thomas H. Moon, PFC Robert L. Smith, and PFC Kenneth L. Thomas. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “1st Marine Division (Rein) Command Chronology for September 1968” at ttu.edu]

Some may think you are forgotten
Though on earth you are no more
But in our memory you are with us
As you always were before….

Kenneth was a good friend of mine in high school. We raised pigeons, along with Steve Bright, another good friend of Kenneth's. I remember him so well that I can still hear his voice. He was very funny and a happy guy. I didn't know his wife, but I remember him talking about her and that she was expecting a child. I knew his sister Helen and so did my sister Wanda. We lived about 5 or 6 blocks from the Thomas family.

Dear PFC Kenneth Thomas, Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. The 54th anniversary of the start of your tour is in 3 days. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Independence Day just passed. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Dear PFC Kenneth Lee Thomas, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter