Lester Jefferson Thornell

Specialist Four
A CO, 1ST BN, 5TH INF RGT, 25 INF DIV
Army of the United States
22 November 1942 - 02 April 1966
Cleveland, Mississippi
Panel 06E Line 078

25 INF DIV

5TH INF RGT
Combat Infantry

Purple Heart, Good Conduct, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Lester Jefferson Thornell

19 Jun 2004

Lester,

You will not be forgotten by your high school classmates at Cleveland High School, Cleveland, Mississippi. So much has happened since we graduated in 1960, including the war that took you from us. You will always be a part of our hearts.

From a friend,
Lamar Tims

E-mail address is not available.

5 Jul 2004

Thank you for your service to our country, Lester. As I grew up, my Daddy, your Uncle Ellis, often spoke of you and the ultimate sacrifice you made by giving your life so that we could live free. You will not be forgotten!

From a cousin,
Christy Thornell Blackmon
Mobile, Al
E-mail address is not available.

23 Jul 2004

We will remember you, Lester.

From a USA citizen,
Fred Evans
fevans@nmhs.net

04 Dec 2005

Lester, I never knew you. But your mother Hazel and your younger brother John are good friends of mine, and your father Grover was also a dear friend.

From a friend of family,
Allen Dennis
E-mail address is not available.

06 Dec 2005

Thanks to all for remembering Lester.

From his brother,
John Thornell
thornell@deltastate.edu

29 Jul 2007

We spent time "hanging out" together at the old "Keen Freeze".
Thanks for going for me and my family.

From a friend,
Reed
rgivens1@yahoo.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall

SP4 Lester J. Thornell was one of four men from A Company, 1/5 Infantry, killed on 02 Apr 1966 when their armored personnel carrier was destroyed by a command-detonated mine fashioned from a 175mm artillery shell. The explosion, which flipped one APC over and damaged a second APC, also wounded seven soldiers and two SVN National Policemen. The dead were
  • SGT Curtis E. Dorris, Mercer, TN (Medic from HHC/1/5)
  • SP4 George S. Franklin, San Pablo, CA
  • SP4 Lester J. Thornell, Cleveland, MS
  • PFC Keith L. Shipp, Medford, OR
They were among the first of 26 Americans from the 1/5 and 2/27 Infantry who died during an excursion into the Ho Bo Woods 02-05 April aimed at clearing out VC camps in the heavily forested area.




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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 19 Jun 2004
Last updated 08/10/2009