William Henry Walls Accomplishments

“We have as a nation been duped by those who use our guilt about how we treated the innocent pawns in the Vietnam War game-the soldiers-into missing the point once again about the utter senselessness that is war” (“Brainy Quotes- Steven Weber”) Private William Henry Walls was part of the 3rd marine regiment. He was born in 1946 in Horsham Pennsylvania (“Vietnam Veterans Memorial Funds”). When William turned 19 he enlisted into the marine corps. William’s life was cut short. In 1966, he was caught in mortar fire, and died at the young age of 20 (“The Virtual Wall”). Pvt. William Henry Walls served in the Vietnam War as a combat engineer that worked in Da Nang, South Vietnam and over the two to three years he served he was awarded military medals.

Da Nang was the start of the United State’s involvement in Vietnam, and it allowed transport for ground forces (“The Vietnam War”). “Present at the beginning of U.S. commitment to the Vietnam War, the Marine Corps was also there at the end. In 1975, Marine Corps elements took part in the final evacuation of South Vietnam as the country fell to the North Vietnamese” (“Marines Continue to Land at Da Nang”). All of the soldiers from the United States fought long and hard trying to win the Vietnam War, but the marines were the ones left to conclude the United States

Private Walls received the defense service medal (“The Virtual Wall”). The defense medal is awarded to those who served an honorable service as a member of the armed forces for 120 consecutive days (“United States Military Forces Decorations”). The next medal he was awarded with is called the purple heart medal (“The Virtual Wall”). “This medal is awarded to soldiers that resulted in injury or death as a result of an international tourist attack, or as a result of military operations while serving as a part of the peacekeeping force” (“AFPC”). The next medal that Henry acquired is the Republic of Vietnam campaign medal (“The Virtual Wall”). “Soldiers who served for 6 months in South Vietnam was awarded this medal. It also includes soldiers that served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam, and contributed direct combat support” (“AFPC”). Pvt. William Henry Walls served in the Vietnam War as a combat engineer that worked in Da Nang, South Vietnam, and over the two to three years he served he was awarded military medals. The Vietnam War consumed countless lives of innocent men. The soldiers died brave deaths to save others from the spread of communism, but it wasn’t enough. In the end the war was lost to the communists in North Vietnam. Even to this day Vietnam remains a communist country. The lives of the deceased soldiers will always be remembered. American soldiers may be dead but their