Download A Tribute To 1SGT Thomas `Top` Vernor Go to www.hardchargers

A Tribute To 1SGT Thomas 'Top' Vernor
Go to www.hardchargers.com
30th FA News
by Daniel P. Gillotti
Published in the September/October 2007 issue of SABER
Hard Charger News www.hardchargers.com: In my last Saber article I said I would devote this article to
1SG (R) Thomas Jefferson Vernor. To his family he called was “TJ” and to his friends who knew him,
respected and loved him he was and will forever be remembered as “TOP.” In my opinion we lost a
damn good soldier, a real national treasure, and a wonderful and generous friend.
Top’s family members who attended his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery on 1 August 2007
included Alma-Jean Cagle, James Cagle, Julius Vernor, Tim Vernor, David Vernor, Josh Vernor, Steve &
Christy Bardwell, Skye Morris, Carrie & Christopher Ellison. Hard Chargers who attended the funeral at
Arlington National Cemetery included: Pat Little, Chuck Causey, Jack Shoalmire, Dick Sparks, Wendell
Greenlee, Jack Kloke, Jack Callaway, Jack Garven, Bill Gregory, Larry Faust, Tom Rothrauff, Saverio
Grimaldi, Ron Carter, Rusty Carroll, Mike Thomas, Rich & Alice Jones, Skip & Hella Wilfong, Ray & Elaine
Zugel, Richard & Sharon Braly, Dan & Theresa Gillotti, Mike & Christine Ray, Bob & Donna Jeaudoin, and
John & Susan Hoetker. Also attending from the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) was Ken
Swords (National MOPH Sergeant at Arms), Ransom Jordan (National MOPH Sergeant at Arms Emeritus),
Jay Phillips (former National MOPH Adjutant), Cy Kammeier (National MOPH Editor in Chief), and
members of the Maryland Department of MOPH. Let’s look at Top’s life.
Top was born in Dumas, AR on 3 May ‘26 and enlisted in the US Navy on 11 Nov ‘41 at the age of 15
years, 6 months, and 8 days old. After his initial training he was assigned to the USS Yorktown (CV-5)
and sailed out of San Diego, CA to join the Pacific Fleet. He was integrated into Torpedo Squadron VT-3
and flew onboard a Torpedo Bomber (TBD) (Devastator) as a Gunner. At the Battle of the Coral Sea,
Top’s plane was hit and the pilot ditched it into the sea. The Pilot, the Radio-Operator/Bombardier, and
Top were picked up and returned to the USS Yorktown. Then during the Battle of Midway the TBD Top
was flying in was hit and the Pilot, the Radio-Operator/Bombardier, and Top were wounded on 5 Jun
‘42. Top’s plane was badly damaged but the Pilot was able to crash it on the deck of the USS Yorktown.
Top’s plane was the only TBD to make it back to the USS Yorktown. Top was 16 years, 1 month, and 2
days old when he earned his first Purple Heart. The Japanese then attacked the USS Yorktown which
then had to be abandoned because of the severe damaged and subsequent explosions. Later Top was
retrained as an Underwater Demolitions Expert and he was assigned to Under Water Team-11 (UDT11). In Mar ‘45, UDT-11 was dropped off of the coast of Okinawa to clear the beach for the subsequent
successful US amphibious landing. In follow-up action on Okinawa Top earned his second Purple Heart
when he was wounded by Jap rifle fire on 27 Jul ‘45. Later UDT-11 was sent to Tseingen, China to
prepare it for the amphibious landing of the US Marines.
Top was discharged from the US Navy on 9 Dec ‘45. With no work available in Arkansas for someone
trained to blow things up, Top enlisted in the US Army on 15 Mar ‘46. Eventually Top served in Korea as
a Mortarman with Company M, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division where he earned his first
Silver Star Medal for leading an effort to keep his unit from being overrun. After a total of 25 months in
Korea, Top was eventually assigned to occupation duty in Germany. He followed this tour with an
assignment to Iceland for a year, then back to Germany for 3 years, then a tour in Korea.
Top began his first tour in Vietnam on 13 Jul ‘67 with the 2nd Bn, 17th FA as a Chief of Firing Btry and as a
1SG. Top returned to the states in July ‘68 and returned right back to the 1st Cavalry Division in Oct ‘68
when he was assigned as the 1SG of A Btry, 1st Bn, 30th FA. During the three major battles of LZ Grant (
23 Feb, 8 Mar & 11 Mar ‘69) A Btry, 1st Bn, 30th FA suffered 9 KIAs and 34 WIAs. For his brave actions
during the 11 Mar ’69 attack, Top was awarded his second Silver Star Medal while leading the effort to
keep the NVA from penetrating the perimeter and exposing himself to enemy fire to identify and direct
friendly fire on NVA troops massing for a second attempt. During these three attacks on LZ Grant A-130th FA lost 9 KIAs and 34 WIAs. From March thru July 1969 Top served through several other attacks,
but the worst was yet to come.
On 9 August 1969, a 3-gun Platoon totaling 46 men from A-1-30th FA including: CPT Donald White (BC);
1LT Paul Stuhr (FDO); and 1SG Thomas J. Vernor, were airlifted from LZ JAMIE to LZ BECKY, located 9
kilometers from the Cambodian border. Also at LZ BECKY was A-2-19th FA and a Company of
Infantrymen from the 2-8th Cav. At approximately 0300 hours on 11 August 1969, the northwestern
corner of LZ BECKY came under a heavy mortar and rocket attack which was followed by a ground attack
by an estimated two NVA Companies. At this point, 1SG Vernor encountered three enemy soldiers who
had penetrated the perimeter. The enemy managed to hurl two grenades at him, but he managed to
hurl one back, killing two of the enemy. One of the NVA sappers had a satchel charge strapped to his
back, and when the grenade that 1SG Vernor threw back at him exploded, it set off the satchel charge
which blew the two NVA into several pieces. The second grenade exploded about that same time and
painfully wounded 1SG Vernor. Later, he remembers the medics picking more than 20 pieces of
grenade fragments out of his body and flack jacket. Although they repelled this initial attack, A Battery
suffered 7 WIAs including 1SG Vernor who declined to be medevaced in order to stay with his
Btry. Intelligence reports received by LTC Callaway later that afternoon indicated the presence of a
three Battalion-sized enemy force massing near LZ BECKY. At approximately 0300 hours on 12 Aug ‘69,
A Btry was hit again with an intense barrage of mortar and RPG fire directed at all three gun sections.
CPT White attempted to aid and protect the wounded crewmembers of the #1 gun and help put the gun
back into action. When he moved from the #1 Gun to the #3 Gun, CPT White was mortally
wounded. 1LT Stuhr was wounded right after CPT White was killed. Also attempting to keep their guns
firing were SSG Samuel Abrams Jr. of the #3 Gun, and his best friend SSG George E. Snyder on #2
Gun. Despite their courageous efforts, both of these brave Hard Charger NCOs were killed while keeping
their guns firing and rallying their troops. CPT White, SSG Abrams, and SSG Snyder were Posthumously
awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for their valorous actions. While the action continued
around the #1 and #3 Guns, 1SG Vernor worked his way toward the #2 Gun Section to help keep it in
action. 1SG Vernor was wounded a second time while he continued to organize and lead the defense of
the Btry. After the attack was finally repelled after several hours, 1SG Vernor was the ranking man still
on his feet, and he had been wounded twice in two days. In this second attack A Btry had suffered 9
KIAs and 19 WIAs. Those killed included: CPT Donald H. White ; SSG Samuel Abrams; SSG George E.
Snyder; SP5 Jeremiah M. Hayes; CPL Richard J. Zisko; SP4 Bobby L. Bevard; PFC Gregg A. Barker; PFC
Gary L. Hoskins; and PFC William T. Smith. Although A Btry suffered a total of 9 KIAs and 26 WIAs on 11
& 12 August, and had all three guns put out of action, they had bravely punished their attackers by
inflicting 54 enemy KIA. 1SG Thomas J. Vernor was decorated for his valorous actions and wounds on
both 11 and 12 August 1969 when he received his third Silver Star Medal and his third and fourth Purple
Hearts.
Soon after this battle Top was transferred to SVC-1-30th FA to serve as their 1SG. In early 1970, Top
transferred to the 1st Bn, 77th FA and served with them until returning to CONUS in Nov ’70. Top
returned to Vietnam for his final tour in April ’71 and was instrumental in closing out the 5th Bn, 4th FA,
1st Bde, 5th ID, the 1st Bn, 82nd FA, and other units in the 196th Inf Bde. After a total of 4 tours totaling
47 months in Vietnam, Top returned to CONUS in March 1972 and retired at Ft Hood, TX effective 1
September 1972 with a total of 31 years Active Military Service. 1SG Thomas J. Vernor’s awards and
decorations included: Silver Star with 2 OLC’s; Soldiers Medal; Navy & Marine Corps Medal; Bronze Star
Medal with “V” and 6 OLC’s; Purple Heart with 3 OLC’s; Air Medal with 4 OLC’s; ARCOM with “V” and 2
OLC’s; Army Good Conduct Medal (7th Award); Navy Good Conduct Medal; Republic of Vietnam Cross of
Gallantry with Gold Star; WW-II, Korean War, Vietnam War Service and Campaign Medals with a total of
23 Campaign Stars. His unit awards include the Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Army Presidential Unit
Citation (3 awards); Valorous Unit Award (3 awards); Meritorious Unit Commendation (2 awards);
Korean Presidential Unit Commendation; Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Commendation;
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm (3 awards); Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor
Medal (2 awards).
But Top was far from ready to be put out to pasture. His sense of adventure quickly steered him to the
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) where he served for 19 years. 1SG Thomas J. Vernor served as the
Honorary Sergeant Major of the 30th FA Regiment from 1995 to 1998. In 1996, he was awarded the
Military Order of St Barbara. In June 2006, Top was appointed as the first Distinguished Member of the
30th FA Regiment by COL Kevin Batule. In his final years Top was very active with the Military Order of
the Purple Heart (MOPH) at both the State (Mississippi) and the National level where he served as the
National Sergeant Arms and the National at Arms Emeritus. He was also active with the VFW in the
State of Mississippi as well as with the American Red Cross and other charitable organizations. He also
remained very active with the 17thFA, 30th FA, and 77th FA Associations and the 1st Cavalry Division
Association. Top was a national historical treasure, a true friend, a Hard Charger till the end and he will
be sorely missed. Stay well ‘ol friend. This is Hard Charger 9G, end of mission ~ Out! Dan Gillotti