THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. You died at 18 years of age. I am 74 and have lived a long and fulfilling life. It is tragic you never had that same opportunity. May you rest in eternal peace.

Dear Sgt Leslie Thompson, Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It is another summer. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Operation Taylor Common was a search and destroy operation conducted by Task Force Yankee, a formation of the 1st Marine Division supported by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), southwest of Hoi An from December 6, 1968 to March 8, 1969. The operational plan was to eliminate Base Area 112, a Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese Army (NVA) base area located in the mountains of Quang Nam Province southwest of Da Nang near the area known to the Marines as "Arizona Territory." The base was believed to support the NVA 21st Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 68B Rocket Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 141st Regiment, and enemy command and support units. After securing the An Hoa Basin together with the ARVN 1st Ranger Group, the Task Force would construct a series of fire support bases to support operations west into the Base Area and destroy the Base Area. By mid-February, Base Area 112 had been largely neutralized, and the participating units were needed in the Demilitarized Area (DMZ), so the operation was progressively scaled back, with the 3/3 Marines and the 3rd Marines command group being withdrawn on the 16th and redeployed to Dong Ha Combat Base, followed the next day by 1/3 Marines. After midnight on February 23rd, NVA mortars hit An Hoa Combat Base, triggering explosions in the ammunition dumps, followed by a sapper attack which was repulsed with gunship and artillery fire. At the same time, firebases Maxwell and Tomahawk, established during Taylor Common, were hit by mortar and sapper attacks. Due to the withdrawal of participating units from the operation, it was decided to withdraw the Marines from the firebases. On March 3rd, a patrol from Company M, 3/5 Marines was ambushed near Firebase Maxwell. Three Marines were killed (LCPL Ronald F. Christianson, LCPL Joseph L. Freeman Jr., CPL David A. Johnston) and two of the bodies were left behind as the company withdrew. The next day, the Marines recovered one of the bodies, and the following day attempted to recover the other, but were ambushed again, and two Marines were killed (LCPL Dennis G. Merryman and SGT Leslie D. Thompson). Again, due to the tactical situation on the ground, their bodies also could not be recovered. On March 6th, the Marines tried to recover the bodies but were forced back by NVA fire. The bodies were later recovered by a reconnaissance team. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “U.S. Marines in Vietnam: High Mobility and Standdown, 1969” by Charles R. Smith]

As your 71st birthday approaches, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Forever 18.

"Greater love hath no man, than that man lay down his life for a friend."

Semper Fi, Marine...You did good

Leslie D. Thompson

Silver Star

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Sergeant
Battalion: 3d Battalion
Division: 1st Marine Division (Rein.), FMF
GENERAL ORDERS:

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant Leslie D. Thompson (MCSN: 2366588), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company M, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 3 March 1969, during Operation TAYLOR COMMON, Company M was conducting a reconnaissance in force in Quang Nam Province when one of Sergeant Thompson's squads was pinned down by a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire from a large North Vietnamese Army force occupying well-concealed emplacements. Immediately deploying the remainder of his platoon as a reaction unit, Sergeant Thompson placed his men in effective fighting positions enabling the beleaguered squad to withdraw. The following day, as the platoon came under intense hostile fire, Sergeant Thompson fearlessly ran to the point of heaviest contact and exhorted his me to advance. As the Marines progressed up a hill, firing became more intensified until, fifty meters from their objective, they were forced to occupy covered emplacements. Supplying himself with extra ammunition, Sergeant Thompson, while seeking to pinpoint the major source of Vietnamese fire, became the target of concentrated attention from two points. Maintaining his dangerously exposed position, he provided accurate suppressive fire while another Marine recovered a casualty, then skillfully maneuvered his men to a more tenable location. On 5 March 1969, Sergeant Thompson was conducting a recovery operation when he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. By his courage, aggressive leadership, and unwavering devotion to duty, Sergeant Thompson inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.