Lewis Clark Walton

The database page for Lewis Clark Walton

04 Feb 2000 My personal message to "Walt": "Let's Head For Marlboro Country" Joseph E. Hannon hannon2u@earthlink.net

16 Nov 2006 I too wear his MIA bracelet. Sgt. Albert Melise III 14103 Mahogany Bay Drive, Boynton Beach, Fl 33436 lawenforcer36@hotmail.com

Notes from The Virtual Wall On 3 May 1971 Reconnaissance Team ASP was inserted into the area south of the A Shau Valley about 9 miles east of the Lao/SVN border. The six-man team's mission was to observe and report on enemy activity along a tributary of the Ho Chi Minh Trail which entered SVN at this point. The team consisted of SSgt Klaus J. Bingham; SSgt James M. Luttrell; SSgt Lewis C. Walton; and three Montagnard troops, names unknown. The insertion was successful and apparently went undetected by the North Vietnamese and the team proceeded under radio silence. On 04 May, forward air controllers searched the area but were unable to locate the team or to establish radio contact. On 05 May, aerial observers noted signal mirror flashes near the insertion point and sighted two men in dark green fatigues placing signal panels. Although no radio contact was made with the team, helicopters with a rescue team were launched at 1500 hours but could not make the insertion because of bad weather. Fixed-wing FACs remained overhead until 1700 without contacting or sighting the team. On 06 May weather again prohibited search attempts, and on 07 May hostile fire in the area prevented the insertion of a rescue team. Poor weather then set in, preventing insertion of a search team until 14 May. The team was extracted the same day without ever having heard or seen the missing patrol. Recon Team ASP was given up for lost and the three Americans were placed in Missing in Action status. They were carried as MIA until the Secretary of the Army finally approved Presumptive Findings of Death for the three men - Bingham on 27 May 77, Luttrell on 20 Oct 78, and Walton on 12 Oct 78. Their remains were never recovered.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is a buddy, Joseph E. Hannon hannon2u@earthlink.net

Top of Page www.VirtualWall.org Back to To alpha index W RI State Index . Panel 03W MACV-SOG Index Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 04 Feb 2000
Last updated 01/01/2007