THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. Your Distinguished Service Criss citation attests to your courage and devotion to your fellow soldiers. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

Dear Lt Clair Thurston, Thank you for your service as an Infantry Unit Commander and for graduating from WEST POINT. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Tomorrow is the 58th anniversary of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident.. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

The “Friends of Rocky Versace” remember one of Bob Walters' USMA 1964 classmates - a brother Airborne-Ranger - Second Lieutenant Clair Hall Thurston Jr., on what would’ve been his 78th birthday - 20 June 2021.

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Clair Hall Thurston, Jr. (ASN: OF-101747), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). On 8 November 1965, Second Lieutenant Thurston was accompanying his unit on a search and destroy mission in War Zone "D". Lieutenant Thurston received orders to move his platoon to the flank of numerous Viet Cong riflemen and hostile machine gun emplacements. As his platoon assumed their flanking position, they were subjected to intense hostile fire. Notwithstanding the vulnerability of his position and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, he moved from squad to squad to encourage and prepare them for the assault upon the insurgent position. As he gave the order to attack, his platoon immediately received a heavy concentration of small arms and automatic weapons fire from the Viet Cong positions. Steadfast, he raised his arm, as a signal to his men, yelled "Follow me", and led the assault on the hostile machine gun emplacements. During the charge, he was mortally wounded by the deadly hail of fire which was directed into his ranks. As a result of his inspiration, courage, and leadership, the machine gun emplacements were overrun and destroyed, causing the insurgents to flee. Lieutenant Thurston's extraordinary heroism, gallantry in action, and supreme sacrifice were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army.
See https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/5488

The “Friends of Rocky Versace” remember one of Bob Walters' USMA 1964 classmates - a brother Airborne-Ranger - 2LT Clair Hall Thurston Jr., on what would’ve been his 77th birthday - 20 June 2020.