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HONORED ON PANEL 20W, LINE 84 OF THE WALL
FRANK DANIEL WALTHERS
WALL NAME
FRANK D WALTHERS
PANEL / LINE
20W/84
DATE OF BIRTH
CASUALTY PROVINCE
DATE OF CASUALTY
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LEFT FOR FRANK DANIEL WALTHERS
POSTED ON 8.4.2019
POSTED BY: Joe McManus
Sua Sponte – 75th Rangers August 1, 1969 (PART II)
They dropped us on the side of a mountain from a hovering position having us jump in from one side of the Huey about 5-8 feet to a sloped hill. It was the closest and appeared to be the safest route to the Rangers. Lt. Johnson was 1st off but twisted his ankle on landing. As we trekked down the hill, deeper into the jungle canopy, we saw dozens of NVA hooches evidencing a sizeable force was “in Residence”. I’m guessing, but I’m sure they weren’t really happy that SSgt. Williams found them and even less happy the Cavalry showed up. The Cobras were covering our flank as we approached the Rangers.
SSGT Williams had kept his team together as they repositioned from attacks by the NVA. His expert deployment of claymores and directing fire from our Cobra gunships kept the enemy at bay and allowed us to safely expand his position.
Exiting the position in the Base Camp discovered by SSgt. Williams and his team is another story. The real story is about SSgt. Williams and his leadership, his professional soldiering and focus under fire on the safety and well-being of his team members. No, I never met SSgt Harold David Williams or Cpl. Frank Daniel Walthers, but I am glad to have been a witness to two heroes in action.
In these past fifty years, I think of both of you often, so “Sua Sponte” Staff Sergeant Harold David Williams and Cpl. Frank Daniel Walthers! Hope to meet you both on ‘Fiddler’s Green’ someday…..
SSGT Williams had kept his team together as they repositioned from attacks by the NVA. His expert deployment of claymores and directing fire from our Cobra gunships kept the enemy at bay and allowed us to safely expand his position.
Exiting the position in the Base Camp discovered by SSgt. Williams and his team is another story. The real story is about SSgt. Williams and his leadership, his professional soldiering and focus under fire on the safety and well-being of his team members. No, I never met SSgt Harold David Williams or Cpl. Frank Daniel Walthers, but I am glad to have been a witness to two heroes in action.
In these past fifty years, I think of both of you often, so “Sua Sponte” Staff Sergeant Harold David Williams and Cpl. Frank Daniel Walthers! Hope to meet you both on ‘Fiddler’s Green’ someday…..
POSTED ON 8.4.2019
POSTED BY: Joe McManus
Sua Sponte – 75th Rangers August 1, 1969 (PART II) - (Read Part I below first)
They dropped us on the side of a mountain from a hovering position having us jump in from one side of the Huey about 5-8 feet to a sloped hill. It was the closest and appeared to be the safest route to the Rangers. Lt. Johnson was 1st off but twisted his ankle on landing. As we trekked down the hill, deeper into the jungle canopy, we saw dozens of NVA hooches evidencing a sizeable force was “in Residence”. I’m guessing, but I’m sure they weren’t really happy that SSgt. Williams found them and even less happy the Cavalry showed up. The Cobras were covering our flank as we approached the Rangers.
SSGT Williams had kept his team together as they repositioned from attacks by the NVA. His expert deployment of claymores and directing fire from our Cobra gunships kept the enemy at bay and allowed us to safely expand his position.
Exiting the position in the Base Camp discovered by SSgt. Williams and his team is another story. The real story is about SSgt. Williams and his leadership, his professional soldiering and focus under fire on the safety and well-being of his team members. No, I never met SSgt Harold David Williams or Cpl. Frank Daniel Walthers, but I am glad to have been a witness to two heroes in action.
In these past fifty years, I think of both of you often, so “Sua Sponte” Staff Sergeant Harold David Williams and Cpl. Frank Daniel Walthers! Hope to meet you both on ‘Fiddler’s Green’ someday…..
SSGT Williams had kept his team together as they repositioned from attacks by the NVA. His expert deployment of claymores and directing fire from our Cobra gunships kept the enemy at bay and allowed us to safely expand his position.
Exiting the position in the Base Camp discovered by SSgt. Williams and his team is another story. The real story is about SSgt. Williams and his leadership, his professional soldiering and focus under fire on the safety and well-being of his team members. No, I never met SSgt Harold David Williams or Cpl. Frank Daniel Walthers, but I am glad to have been a witness to two heroes in action.
In these past fifty years, I think of both of you often, so “Sua Sponte” Staff Sergeant Harold David Williams and Cpl. Frank Daniel Walthers! Hope to meet you both on ‘Fiddler’s Green’ someday…..
POSTED ON 8.4.2019
POSTED BY: Joe McManus
Sua Sponte – 75th Rangers August 1, 1969 (PART I)
“Sua Sponte” is the Ranger Motto referring to the Rangers' ability to accomplish tasks with little to no prompting – “LEAD THE WAY” as they like to say.
Although, I never met Staff Sergeant Harold David Williams, I was less than 10 feet from him and Cpl. Frank Daniel Walthers when our medic “Doc” Tippett lost the fight to keep them alive and with us. Cpl. Walthers had taken rounds in the chest and appeared to be the more seriously wounded as Doc tried to stop the bleeding. SSgt. Williams had taken rounds in his legs and directed Doc to stay focused on Walthers imploring him to save his RTO. Little did Doc know that SSGT Williams was bleeding out from a severed artery in his leg. Although Doc had worked feverishly on both men as a firefight was raging about us, his bag of tricks including mouth to mouth on both men went for naught. I could feel Doc’s frustration!
It was a Friday afternoon and our Infantry platoon from D Troop 2nd Squadron 1st Cavalry Regiment was on a stand down for the day. D Troop was the Air Cavalry arm of the Mechanized 2nd Squadron including A, B, C and HHT Troops. Like the Cavalry of old our mission was Scouting in force. D Troop had Cobra Gunships, 2-man LOH Scout helicopters and a Lift Platoon of Huey helicopters for carrying our Infantry Platoon and others as needed to complete any Scouting mission.
One of the missions of the Lift Platoon was to ferry Ranger teams in and out of areas of suspected enemy concentrations.
When the call came in that Friday afternoon that a Ranger team was surrounded and needed support, two teams of LOH’s and Cobra’s were immediately airborne and headed to the AO some 15 -20 minutes airtime from our base in Phan Thiet. Our “Stand Down” was declared “over” and the D Troop Infantry Platoon led by Lt. Johnson was airborne within 10 minutes of the call. We went with about 20 guys.
SEE PART II to FOLLOW:
Although, I never met Staff Sergeant Harold David Williams, I was less than 10 feet from him and Cpl. Frank Daniel Walthers when our medic “Doc” Tippett lost the fight to keep them alive and with us. Cpl. Walthers had taken rounds in the chest and appeared to be the more seriously wounded as Doc tried to stop the bleeding. SSgt. Williams had taken rounds in his legs and directed Doc to stay focused on Walthers imploring him to save his RTO. Little did Doc know that SSGT Williams was bleeding out from a severed artery in his leg. Although Doc had worked feverishly on both men as a firefight was raging about us, his bag of tricks including mouth to mouth on both men went for naught. I could feel Doc’s frustration!
It was a Friday afternoon and our Infantry platoon from D Troop 2nd Squadron 1st Cavalry Regiment was on a stand down for the day. D Troop was the Air Cavalry arm of the Mechanized 2nd Squadron including A, B, C and HHT Troops. Like the Cavalry of old our mission was Scouting in force. D Troop had Cobra Gunships, 2-man LOH Scout helicopters and a Lift Platoon of Huey helicopters for carrying our Infantry Platoon and others as needed to complete any Scouting mission.
One of the missions of the Lift Platoon was to ferry Ranger teams in and out of areas of suspected enemy concentrations.
When the call came in that Friday afternoon that a Ranger team was surrounded and needed support, two teams of LOH’s and Cobra’s were immediately airborne and headed to the AO some 15 -20 minutes airtime from our base in Phan Thiet. Our “Stand Down” was declared “over” and the D Troop Infantry Platoon led by Lt. Johnson was airborne within 10 minutes of the call. We went with about 20 guys.
SEE PART II to FOLLOW:
POSTED ON 6.30.2018
POSTED BY: Mike Switzer
Tribute to Sky Soldier
On behalf of all the paratroopers who served with you in the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) and all who followed, we offer our respect and remembrance of your ultimate sacrifice. May you never be forgotten and your family and friends take comfort in your valor in serving.
POSTED ON 11.12.2017
POSTED BY: Tom Wojcicki
Frank - Never Forgotten
I'd like to express my appreciation to "RICHARD P. GRIMES" and "John Leppelman" for describing what happened to the Team on August 1, 1969. I would like to add, Frank was reported as MIA for 30 days by the DOD.
I've added to my bucket list a visit to Ranger Williams burial site at Ingelewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. I plan on locating additional photos of Frank for the Faces Project.
Rest in Peace my Friend, You are never forgotten.