David William Walsh

The database page for David William Walsh

Window I press my head against the windowpane -            it's getting dark                       looks like rain I press my head against the windowpane -            and think of you                       and call your name                                  your name                                             your name! I press my head against the windowpane -            it's almost dark                       and now the rain I press my head against the windowpane -            and yearn for you                       and pray for you                                  again                                             again! David Walsh was an exceptional person. I was lucky to have him as my best friend and husband. The poem above was written for him during his second tour of Vietnam as he served as Company Commander of Alpha Company 1/20th Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade. I'm not sure how to do this "page". Is there a place where I can say to David that after all these years I finally found the men who served with him and how they have told me about the day he died? I am so grateful to these fine men, for they remember David so very well. I thought I was the only one left to remember David Walsh, but I am so glad I was wrong. David Walsh was a graduate of Lafayette College, Chi Phi Fraternity and the ROTC. Following graduation he went on active duty. He served at Fort Dix and in South Korea. In August 1966 he was assigned to MACV, Advisory Team 100 in Saigon. When he returned in August 1967 he was assigned as a company commander at Fort Ord, California. In November 1968, Captain Walsh returned to Vietnam to serve with the Americal Division as an Infantry company commander. The battle of Iron Mountain took place 8-10 June 1969. Twelve men in the company died and scores were wounded. David died trying to save three of those men, on June 10, 1969. David was greatly loved by his wife, Bonnie (Wilcoxon) Walsh, his parents, Robert and Doris Walsh and his brother, Michael Walsh. Captain Walsh is buried in Arlington Cemetery. Alpha Company and Bonnie Walsh would like to contact any of the other members of the company and family members who lost a loved one from Alpha Company. ... Missing in action ... What talisman have I to hold upon this anguished hour? I give him over to thy scrutiny oh God, this son of thine, Whose going out and coming in are scribed within thy law, Thy law whose talisman is love Whose talisman will bind Our destinies together, come what may, In this life or the next. Whose talisman I hold upon this desperate day. Visit Alpha 1/20 Infantry CITATION BY DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS IS AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY TO CAPTAIN DAVID W. WALSH, UNITED STATES ARMY FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN CONNECTION WITH MILITARY OPERATIONS INVOLVING CONFLICT WITH AN ARMED HOSTILE FORCE IN THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM: CAPTAIN WALSH DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY EXCEPTIONALLY VALOROUS ACTIONS ON 10 JUNE 1969 WHILE SERVING AS THE COMMANDER OF COMBAT OPERATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF PHOUC LOC IN QUANG NGAI PROVINCE. HE WAS DIRECTING HIS COMPANY INTO A BLOCKING POSITION WHEN A NORTH VIETNAMESE FORCE ARMED WITH MACHINE GUNS, GRENADES, AND SMALL ARMS ATTACKED AND PINNED DOWN THE UNIT. CAPTAIN WALSH IMMEDIATELY ORGANIZED A REACTION FORCE TO ENGAGE THE FLANKING AMBUSH POSITIONS. AS HIS SMALL ELEMENT BEGAN TO CLOSE IN, AUTOMATIC RIFLE FIRE BURST FROM A CONCEALED EMPLACEMENT. CAPTAIN WALSH SINGLE-HANDEDLY CHARGED THE POSITION KILLING THE ENEMY SOLDIER AND CAPTURING HIS WEAPON. AS HE LEAD HIS GROUP FORWARD, HE ENCOUNTERED HOSTILE FIRE AND QUICKLY SHOT THE ENEMY SOLDIER. WHEN A THIRD SNIPER OPENED FIRE ON THE GROUP, CAPTAIN WALSH ONCE MORE RUSHED FORWARD TO ELIMINATE THE HOSTILE TROOPER. WHILE ENGAGING THE THIRD SNIPER HE WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED BY ENEMY FIRE. CAPTAIN WALSH'S EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM AND DEVOTION TO DUTY, AT THE COST OF HIS LIFE, WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MILITARY SERVICE AND REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, HIS UNIT, AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

Note from The Virtual Wall Twelve men of Alpha Company, 1st of the 20th Infantry, died in the fighting: 08 June 1969 SGT David A. Brown 09 June 1969 SGT James F. Haider SP4 Stoney L. Deel SP4 Jimmy A. Ingram PFC Leroy Conway 10 June 1969 CPT David W. Walsh SGT Lee A. Williams CPL Ricardo J. Gomez SP4 Glynn T. Cahoon SP4 Lawrence L. White PFC James Hopper PFC James A. Kruse

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Channing Prothro, former CAP Marine
Last updated 08/10/2009