(Left to right) David Hickman, Stewart Thacker, Logan Hickman, Chris Thacker and Andy Hickman made up part of the team that hiked last Saturday to honor a fallen soldier.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF) – Though U.S. Army 4th Specialist Michael Flood, posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star, died in the Vietnam War during combat more than 50 years ago (1969), he is not forgotten.

Saturday, May 1, Logan Hickman’s team set out to remember this fallen soldier with a 13.1 mile hike. Hickman is a a retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel and Eagle Scout. They were joined by several members of Boy Scout Troop 310 of Cedar Hill Baptist Church. In order to also help the Scouts fulfill a hiking merit badge requirement the hike needed to be extended to 15 miles.

More team members that took part in Saturday’s hike.

The route was chosen, mapped and evaluated by TWRA officers Joe and Darrell England. They also provided a support vehicle escort in case of emergency.

It was a good weather day for last Saturday’s hike.

Those in attendance on behalf of Logan’s team were:

Logan Hickman, a retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel and Eagle Scout

David Hickman

Andy Hickman

Chris Thacker

Stewart Thacker

Troop 310

Crystal Thacker

Cyril Picker

Elijah Lamb

Tim Humphreys

Aiden Roberts

Claude Roberts

TWRA support

Joe England

Darrell England

Many taking part in the hike wore T-shirts in memory of U-S Army 4th Specialist Michael Flood.

History and bio surrounding Specialist Fourth Class Michael H. Flood

The UT Army ROTC Class of 1980 MMMM team marched in the memory of Specialist Fourth Class Michael H. Flood Saturday in Campbell County.  The team was rounded out with members of Scouts BSA Troop 310.  We were also assisted by two members of the TN Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).  We hope to see you next year in Gatlinburg. 

Michael served in the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division.  Here is Michael’s story as told by his sister Marlene:

On APR 4th (1969) – At the time Co E/Recon, Co B and Co D were in the Ashau Valley. They had no idea that they were up against over 200 NVA. LeDuc Hua, Co B’s Kit Carson, was on point and was killed by a sniper. SGT Sparks, who was 3rd Platoon leader, was also wounded. All in the column retreated back up the hill to regroup and LT Ostendorf took charge of both Co E/Recon and Co B/3rd Platoon. LT Ostendorf’s Recon unit CPL Jenkin’s had volunteered to be point man when the usual man had been called out of the field for another assignment. He stepped out to an open area and was quickly shot by AK47 fire. He was very vocal in getting help. Mike being the only medic in the area went into an insecure area, despite being told to wait till they cleared the area. CPL Jenkins was constantly shouting for help.

Mike could not be talked out of going to help the man. Mike did what he had always done for his men in the field. He went without concern for his own safety to help a downed soldier. He got to SGT Jenkins and opened his shirt to assess his chest wound. Before he could open his medical bag, he was shot in the right chest just under his arm by a sniper.

LT Ostendorf had gone down to the right of where they had regrouped to see if he could get to Jenkins from another direction. He went back up the hill and found that Mike had gone to give aid and had been shot. When he arrived on the scene, Mike was slumped forward next to CPL Jenkins with a gunshot wound to the right chest just under his armpit. LT Ostendorf turned Mike over and found that Mike’s breathing was shallow, so he tried giving him mouth to mouth. He found that it was ineffective, Mike took one last breath. The LT stated he saw Mike’s spirit leave his body.

Then gunshots started again so LT Ostendorf grabbed Mike by his shirt and was trying to push CPL Jenkins, up the hill. He also noticed another man, CPL Chase was down a few feet away. This was a man that tried to go down to help Mike immediately after he was shot. He had not gotten all the way to Mike. Another man, SGT Overton, came to try to help LT Ostendorf move Mike and the other man up the hill when both of them were hit. The LT was injured in the neck and the SGT was injured in the forearm. PFC Hoffman and another soldier arrived and carried CPL Jenkins up the hill while two others were able to get LT Ostendorf and SGT Overton to a medevac.

The fighting was too fierce, so they had to pull back, set up a night defensive position (NDP). Two men, PFC Marzigliano and PFC Taylor, set up for over 24 hours trying to watch the remains of Mike and CPL Chase from being taken by the enemy.

Sometime during the next 3 days, an NVA soldier had gotten to Mike and took his watch. PFC Taylor had made three attempts to get to the KIA’s but, it was pitch black to where you could not see your hand in front of your face. Terry was afraid he would not be able to get back to the NDP.

On APR 5th, a platoon from Co D arrived to assist Co B and Recon to recover Mike and CPL Chase. The fighting was just as fierce as the day before and by the end of the day many more were wounded and there was four more KIA’s, one which was another medic. The 6th, CPT Erickson brought another platoon to the area. The fighting was just as fierce, but air strikes had been called in which lessened the fighting by the time it was dark.

On APR 7th, they finally had the area under control so they could recover the remains. A few weeks later, the ARVN were interrogating an NVA prisoner and LT Ostendorf was out of the hospital working with the ARVN. He walked by where they were trying to get information from the NVA. He identified Mike’s watch on the prisoner. That watch was returned, and my father wore it for a few years.

Mike was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star for his actions. CPL Chase received the Silver Star for running forward to try to get to Mike. CPL Jenkins was awarded the rank of SGT. Five other men received either the Silver Star or Bronze star for their bravery to not leave any man behind. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/06/2021-6AM)