Thomas Monroe MaysSergeant First Class554TH ENG BN, 79TH ENG GRP, 20TH ENG BDE, 20TH ENG BDE Army of the United States 28 June 1934 - 21 December 1969 Salt Lake City, Utah Panel 15W Line 079 |
 
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The database page for Thomas Monroe Mays
REMEMBEREDby a comrade in arms.
Jim Barry |
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Today is December 21, 2006, 37 years since SFC Mays died in service to his country. In 1969 I was a member D/168th Engineers (C). We had been working on a pacification program out of Chu Chi. We were rebuilding roads that would allow the Vietnamese to move back into an area that had previously been a free-fire zone, part of the Iron Triangle and Ho Bo Woods. Every day we would begin by mine-sweeping the roads and then working on improving the next section of the road. SFC Mays was a member of a survey crew that was attached to us. On December 21, 1969 SFC Mays was riding in a 3/4 ton when it detonated what was believed to be a 30 lb. anti-tank mine. The truck was thrown in the air and destroyed. SFC Mays died as a result of his wounds and three others were seriously injured and the driver survived without any wounds. It was a terrible blow to our company. We had not suffered any casualties in the previous 9 months and this happening so close to Christmas put a damper on our spirits. We knew that SFC Mays was a family man and his family would be receiving the worst possible news on a day that should have been a day of joy. Every Christmas since I think of SFC Mays and his family and know that what is a day of joy for many of us is a day of sadness for his family. God bless his family and God bless SFC Mays for the ultimate sacrifice he made.
2 Corinthians 1, 8-11 |
A Note from The Virtual WallOfficial records indicate that Sergeant First Class Mays was assigned to D Company, 168th Engineers, but Mr. Barry advises that he was transferred to the 554th before his death. |
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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 08 Sep 2005
Last updated 08/10/2009