Last week marked the 43rd anniversary of the night SPC 4 Donald Steven Waite was killed near Quang Tri, South Vietnam on February 9. Donald, or Donnie as his family called him, was a soldier in Alpha Company of the 502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. He was from Omaha, Nebraska and was the brother of Karen McGrane who is a longtime friend of my mother. My Armed Forces Day display in May 2010 was dedicated to Donnie.
As stated, Donnie was with A Co 1/502 which had been stationed at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky before arrival in Vietnam in December 1967. February saw 1/502 in the middle of operation, “Jeb Stuart”. Many logistical problems occurred under the constant moving concept used by the Brigade. There was a great shortage of clothing, batteries, LSA, all types of class IV barrier material, demolitions, hand grenades, trip flares, booby traps, and claymore mines.
During the day of Feb. 8, the 1st Battalion continued search and destroy operations southeast of Quang Tri. Light contact was made during the day. Aerial observation and other sources had given 1/502 credit for 250 NVA killed for the period Feb. 4-8 1968. But during the night of Feb. 8, Alpha Company and Bravo Company were infiltrated by enemy sappers. Attacks were very heavy. During the night and into the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 9, eight 502nd men were killed with an additional 19 being wounded in action. Eleven NVA were killed. Among the dead were the following:
SSG Benard John Caron
Canada / Age 31
SP6 Charles J. Crawford, Jr.
Jersey City, New Jersey / Age 20
CPL Clyde Lawrence De Mello
El Cerrito, California / Age 18
SP4 Thomas Norton
New York, New York / Age 20
SP4 Charles Edward Novel
Dyersburg, Tennessee / Age 21
SP4 Benjamin John Terejko, Jr.
Solvay, New York / Age 20
2LT Douglas Burem Wade
Kingsport, Tennessee / Age 20
SP4 Donald Steven Waite
Omaha, Nebraska / Age 19
So this is my salute to Donnie. A kid doing what he loved, just trying to stay alive and make his way home. You are missed by many. You will always be remembered.
