Col. Ret. USA, Marion David Ernest

A true story about a great Officer named M David Ernest from a Gunner of 105mm Howitzer and the positive impact he had on my life. My name is Thomas Holley and at the young age of 18, rotated into Vietnam and on Thanksgiving Day 1966, I was assigned to “A” Battery, 1st Battalion, 7th Artillery, 1st Infantry Division. The Battery Commander was only known to this young solider as Capt. Ernest. It took me over forty-six years to find then retired Col. Ernest. Below is a redacted letter written to Capt. Ernest on January 6, 2014. I am now 69 years old and think about the positive impact Col. Ernest had on me. Col. Ernest was not only our Commanding Officer, but in many, ways a father image. I will miss an Officer, a gentlemen and a friend. My deepest sympathy and heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Maxine, Brian, Brad, Lindsay and Payton. May the soul of M. David Ernest and the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. I am hoping you are my ex Commanding Officer of “A” Battery, 1st Battalion, 7th Artillery, 1st Infantry Division during the time assigned under your command. On April 9, 1967, during Operation Junction City, I was a gunner when my piece, firing a charge two, misfired. The reason for writing so many years later is because I never got to thank you for taking care of this then very young artilleryman. I can clearly recall Gary XXXXX from Chicago, who through the streets of hard knocks discovered was a bantamweight boxer. At any rate, Gary and I got into an argument, and stupid me punched him in his stomach and he in turn split my eye open and gave me the biggest shiner one could imagine. I also recall how you called both Gary and I into your tent and said, “the next time you son of bitches want to fight come see me and you can fight in my tent”. I was too young and naïve to know the seriousness of fighting and the punishment you could have levied on the both of us. Shortly after, an opening for and R&R to Hawaii came open and you gave it to me. Those six days and five nights were the happiest time of my life for you see; my wife flew from New Orleans and met me there. I was well rested and in great physical and mental shape thanks to you for my first day back with the unit, was when the misfire happened. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be alive today because you afforded me the R&R. I also recall you visiting me at the 3rd Field Hospital and probably many other of our comrades who were wounded during Operation Junction City. FYI, about twenty years ago, I located the surgeon who operated on me at the 3rd Surgical Hospital in the Mei Kong Delta. During the eight hour surgery, Dr. Robert XXXXX, shortened my intestines a bit, took a vein from my left leg and made an artery and vein in the right groin. In the process, I received a total of 40-units of blood. After being transferred to the 106th General Hospital in Yokohama, I was placed back on the serious ill list and suffered a major setback due to a secondary infection that developed in my right leg between the knee and ankle. In May 1968, I was permanently retired from the Army and weighed a total of 87-pounds. In June 1968, I went to work for the federal government as a Clerk, GS-2 and was assigned to the U.S. Maritime Administration. In 1972, I transferred to the U.S. Customs Service and held positions of Contracting Officer, Customs Inspector and for the past twenty-six years as an Intelligence Officer. On November 3, 2011, I retired as a GS-13, step 10, with a total of 45.6 years, which included my two years military. All this because of you giving me a second chance to prove myself in a place called Vietnam. Since being discharged from the Army I have been trying to find you; but all I had to work with was a last name – Ernest! I also remember Lt. Hayes, Phippin who I recall being assigned to Battery FDC. However, about two months ago, I Googled “Operation Junction City” and to my surprise came across http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf6BvwZHIfM titled “Vietnam 1966-1967 1st INF DIV – 1st & 7th Artillery “A” Battery.Mov and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHWGhhNpgLU, “Vietnam 1967 Operation Junction City”, that were uploaded by a Charlie Glad. I couldn’t believe it -- photos of Battery “A” and Operation Junction City; needless to say I was ecstatic! As a result, I fired off an Email to Charlie Glad and turns out we were both in your Battery with Charlie being your Battery Clerk! Over the past couple months, Charlie and I have sent Vietnam photos to one another and he even had one of you and top standing together. I am now 67-years old and after so many years, I can now rest! I was determined to find you and thank you for being the Officer and person you are. Lastly, I am enclosing a photo of myself and family. I have been married to my present wife, Arlene for the past 33-years. I have a Junior (now 43 years old from a previous marriage), and from my present wife, a son named Scott, who is 30 and just finishing up law school, and a daughter, Candice, who is now 28. Candice is at Texas Tech and half way through her Doctorial. Colonel, please keep in touch my friend! Very Respectfully, Thomas (Tom) Holley

Please accept my sincere condolences on your recent loss. May the God of peace, Jehovah, comfort you during this most difficult of times. I hope these 3 scriptures aid in that comfort. Thank you. Isaiah 25:8 "He will swallow up death forever, And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces." , Revelation 21:3,4 "With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. 4?And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” , John 5:28,29 "Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life"

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.